By an OGJ correspondent
NICOSIA, May 5 -- Acts of piracy on the high seas increased sharply in the first quarter of 2003, with tankers carrying petroleum or petrochemicals attracting more than 25% of the attacks so far this year, an ocean crime watchdog said on Thursday.
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said attacks on ships rose 18% to 103 over the first 3 months of this year from 87 recorded in the same period last year.
Attacks on tankers increased to 26 from 25 for the same period, with 10 attacks on crude oil tankers, 13 on chemical tankers, and 3 on LPG carriers. Two survey ships�the C-Explorer and HD Challenger�were also targeted.
Geographically, Indonesia had the highest number of attacks with 28, while India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria each saw 9 incidents. There were 7 attacks in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore combined, and 6 in the Gulf of Aden-Red Sea region.
Safeguards sought
Apart from piracy, the IMB said the shipping industry is also trying to safeguard itself against terrorism, a threat underscored by the attack on the French tanker Limburg by an explosives-packed boat off Yemen last October (OGJ Online, Oct. 11, 2002). The attack killed a crew member and caused the tanker to spill 90,000 bbl of oil into the Gulf of Aden.
"Maritime security and intelligence experts say that the Malacca and Singapore Straits are prime targets for a terrorist attack on commercial shipping due to their economic importance, high traffic volume, limited maneuverability, and existing piracy problem," IMB said.
IMB said Japan reportedly plans to protect its oil supply by using coast guard vessels for the first time to escort oil tankers heading to and from the Middle East, particularly through the Indonesian archipelago.
Meanwhile, Malaysian police have intensified patrols in the Malacca Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, between peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia's Sumatra island. The move follows the war in Iraq, which raised worries of potential terror attacks, IMB said.
Past attacks
The group says attacks are increasingly violent, with militia using a range of high-tech weaponry including rocket-propelled grenades and submachine guns. It cited the case of the Suhaila, a Malaysian chemical tanker, near East Acheh, Indonesia.
"While (the ship was) under way, four boats with approximately eight pirates in each boat armed with AK47 assault rifles and rockets chased and fired at the ship. Bullets hit the starboard side of the accommodation plating and destroyed bridge windows, along with VHF radio on the bridge. The chief engineer sustained gunshot wounds in the head."
IMB also underlined the attack on the survey ship, HD Challenger, which took place off Warri, Nigeria, on Jan. 1. Pirates boarded the ship and attacked and badly injured several crewmembers. Three crewmembers jumped overboard and were rescued by a supply boat.
Pirates took hostage all remaining crewmembers and HD Challenger was grounded on a sandbank. Several crewmembers were later taken ashore and held in a village. The Nigerian Authorities negotiated with the pirates for the release of the crew. The hostages were released within 5 days and the ship was subsequently refloated.
IMB also noted the especially vicious attack on Ukrainian oil tanker MT Mekhanik Karasyov off Brazil on Feb. 7 when 10 pirates armed with heavy weapons boarded the ship and attacked the duty officer.
"The ship's general alarm was sounded and all crew mustered. Pirates opened gunfire at crewmembers. The chief officer was shot in the head and killed. The second officer was also shot and seriously wounded. . . . Pirates stole crew personal belongings and escaped."
Somalia recorded just two incidents, but the threat to shipping posed by armed militia off the coast of Somalia has been highlighted by the IMB's Piracy Reporting Center for many years.
"Over the past 9 months, however, the risk of attack to vessels straying close to the coastline from organized Somali militiamen has increased from one of possibility to certainty," IMB said, adding that most vessels now stay clear of the Somali Coast.
Since compiling its annual report, however, IMB noted there was a violent attack about 55 miles off Somalia on Apr. 20.
"Pirates armed with guns and knives boarded a general cargo ship under way, from 3 speedboats and took control of the ship. They destroyed all communication equipment onboard. The Master received stab wounds and head injuries. Other crew and officers were tied up on the bridge and in cabins. Pirates stole ship's cash and left."