Pirate Attacks - Statistics & Facts

Pirate attacks are posing a genuine threat to maritime transport. Pirates are capable of cutting off important transit choke points such as the Strait of Bab al-Mandab between Arabia and Africa or the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asian waters. In 2015, the trade routes around the Indonesian coast, as well as in Malaysian and Nigerian waters were counted among the most perilous sea paths globally.

Typically, pirates will try to hijack the vessels under attack and take the crews hostage or steal the cargo. More than 3,670 seafarers were affected by pirate attacks in Southeast Asia in 2015. 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. In 2011, 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.