The ICC International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) annual piracy report for 2022 reveals that global piracy is at a 30-year low and has been declining for two consecutive years. The report shows a 13% decrease in overall attacks compared to 2021, with the decrease mainly attributed to reduced activity in the Gulf of Guinea. Despite this positive trend, half of the incidents reported occurred in Southeast Asian waters, with the Singapore Straits having reached a seven-year high in 2022. The report recorded a total of 115 piracy and armed robbery incidents against ships in 2022, with 95% of cases involving successful boarding of the vessels. Although the Gulf of Guinea has experienced positive progress, with incidents decreasing from 82 in 2018 to 19 in 2022, sustained efforts are still needed to ensure the continued safety of seafarers. The Indian Ocean High Risk Area was removed as of 1 January 2023 due to improved piracy situations. However, Somali pirates retain the capacity and capability to launch attacks in the Gulf of Aden region. Port security concerns remain with drug smuggling on the rise, particularly in South America, and Mexico and Brazil reporting increased seizures of cocaine.
