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Piracy, terrorism and diverse

Amaritime threats in the year ahead

5% global decline in reported their operational area south of Nigeria

incidents of piracy and armed for the first time. Furthermore,
robbery at sea is outweighed by kidnapping-for-ransom off the Niger

the changing threat the maritime Delta region saw a significant increase
community is facing in the Gulf of both in activity, with incident numbers up

Guinea, according to the RiskMap by 355% compared to the previous year,

Maritime analysis, Control Risks’ and in operational range, with successful
authoritative guide to risks for the attacks being recorded further from the

maritime community in 2014.
Nigerian coast.
Although improved ship security There have been some

measures and naval coordination have improvements in security measures in
been successful in preventing Somali the Gulf of Guinea, with local initiatives

pirates from hijacking large commercial such as “secure anchorages” in some
vessels, groups continue to launch attacks ports while the shipping industry has

and political tension in Somalia also begun to improve its security
highlights how easily the region could see awareness while operating in the region.

another rise in pirate activity.
However, local navies still have a limited

capability and the region lacks a While the RiskMap Maritime 2014
centralised reporting and coordination analysis states that the number of piracy and civil unrest, political violence,

centre to assist vessels under attack and incidents in the Horn of Africa continues territorial disputes and migration can
coordinate a naval response.
to decline, ongoing violent unrest and pose a similar level of reputational,

instability onshore in Somalia means that Commenting on the launch of operational and security risk for
the risk of resurgence is real. Most RiskMap Maritime 2014, Tom the shipping and offshore oil and

importantly, individuals will be more Patterson, Head of Control Risks’ gas industry.”
likely to return if the offshore situation Maritime Risk Analysis department, Regarding the additional factors

changes, if ship security levels drop or said: “The centre of maritime piracy has affecting maritime security, RiskMap
naval forces draw down.
been shifting west for a number of years, Maritime 2014 cited the following

and the decline in activity off East Africa On the other side of the continent issues as holding key importance; Port
in 2013 has seen the Gulf of Guinea Control Risks registered a 30% increase and anchorage crime (including petty

emerge as the global hotspot for in piracy incidents and armed robbery at theft and robbery onboard vessels

maritime crime. But although piracy sea in the Gulf of Guinea. The number anchored, drifting and berthed within
continues to dominate the headlines, of product tanker hijacks for cargo theft territorial waters); domestic instability

further key factors such as port and decreased by 12.5%, but 2013 also saw and civil unrest; political violence; and
anchorage crime, domestic instability
these criminal groups continue to expand
territorial disputes.

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2014 Issue 60 The SHIP Supplier 49