Typically, pirates will try to hijack the vessels under attack and take the crews hostage or steal the cargo. Attempted and actual attacks decreased between 2015 and 2017 but rebounded in 2018. More than 200 seafarers were subjected to violent pirate attacks around the world in 2018. In 2011, the hijacking of the Irene SL, a Greek-owned crude oil tanker, led to a ransom payment of around 13.5 million U.S. dollars. However, ransom payments are not the only costs caused by piracy. Increased speed, military operations, and security guards on ships were ranked as the most costly factors associated with pirate attacks in Somali waters. As a result, maritime pirates have left the area around the coast of Somalia and moved on.
Although piracy attacks have decreased over the previous five years, Indonesia was still subjected to some 36 attacks in 2018, accounting for some 18 percent of pirate attacks worldwide. Overall, Nigeria was the most dangerous area with 48 reported attempted and actual incidents of piracy in 2018.
