Piracy in Southeast Asia and West Africa is increasingly focused on kidnappings and is concentrated on high-value Western targets as tankers and bulk carriers have become the target of choice, according to new analysis from IHS Markit.

Global piracy shifted away from hijacking and towards kidnap for ransom, according to the consultancy, which tracked nine kidnappings in 2014, 19 in 2015 and then a spike to 44 abductions from January to 30 September this year.

Tankers and bulk carriers are the target of choice, with smaller product chemical and oil tankers the most sought after
Devlin McStay, IHS

“Piracy has changed in the past three years,” data analyst at IHS Maritime and Trade, Devlin McStay, said.

“The number of piracy attacks is decreasing overall, but kidnapping is becoming more common. We are seeing the number of kidnappings rise in the piracy hotspots of Southeast Asia and West Africa,” McStay said.

Research from the consultancy showed that the areas most affected by piracy include Southeast Asia, near the Malacca Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and the Gulf of Guinea.

“The seas around the Philippines are the most pirated, with the seas around Nigeria the second most and the seas around India third,” according to analysts.

IHS said that in the Gulf of Guinea, kidnapping accounted for 20% of all piracy incidents in 2012, while hijacking accounted for 24% and robbery for 56%. However, since the start of the year, between January and September, 60% of all piracy incidents were kidnaps and only 40% robberies.

“Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is focused on kidnap for ransom and is concentrated on high-value Western targets,” senior analyst at IHS Country Risk, Martin Roberts said.

“The need for alternative funding and ongoing militancy in the Niger Delta region will continue to drive these risks into 2017. Onshore dynamics are affecting offshore risks,” Roberts said.

“Tankers and bulk carriers are the target of choice, with smaller product chemical and oil tankers the most sought after. A healthy demand for black market fuel and cargo that can be transferred quickly, means that these are the most sought after,” McStay added.

Analysts said that between March and July 2016, armed cells affiliated with terrorist groups are suspected to have been behind at least six known cases of kidnap-for-ransom operations, involving five tugs towing barges and a fishing trawler under way in waters off eastern Sabah and the southern Philippines.

We are seeing the number of kidnappings rise in the piracy hotspots of Southeast Asia and West Africa
Devlin McStay, IHS

Research also warned that a number of potential developments on the technology front may also be presenting a challenge in maintaining maritime security.

“Better internet connectivity has given potential perpetrators of maritime crime the ability to monitor open sources of information, such as live automatic identification system (AIS) tracking websites, and to use information such as projected routes and arrival times, as well as cargo data, to target potential ships passing through vulnerable areas,” naval analyst at IHS Jane’s, Ridzwan Rahmat said.

Proliferation of technologies with potentially offensive capabilities, such as readily available remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which can be used by criminals for surveillance or payload delivery, is also a concern, the analysis said.

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Pirate kidnappings on the rise: IHS