Attacks on ships have dropped significantly in the Gulf of Guinea in the first nine months of 2021. From 46 in the first 9 months of 2020, incidents of piracy and armed robbery fell to 28 over the same period in 2021, a drop of 40%.

Pirate attacks and armed robberies at sea in the Gulf of Guinea maritime area fell from 46 in the first nine months of 2020 to 28 in the corresponding period of 2021, according to the Center for Reporting on the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) hack. This represents a drop of around 40% in recorded incidents against vessels in the area. “Crew kidnappings in the region have decreased with only one crew member kidnapped in Q3 2021, compared to 31 crew members captured in five separate incidents during Q3 2020. All incidents in Q3 of 2021 also involved ships at port anchorages while the average successful removal location in Q3 2020 was approximately 100 NM from land,” the IMB describes.

Most notably, Nigeria reported only four incidents in the first nine months of 2021 compared to 17 in 2020 and 41 in 2018. According to the IMB, the overall reduction in incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the region reflects the strengthening of maritime security and response coordination measures adopted by regional and national authorities. "We welcome the decrease in piracy attacks and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea and the efforts of maritime authorities in the region," said Michael Howlett, Director of ICC's International Maritime Office. Despite these gains, the IMB warns that the risk to aircrew remains high in the region and therefore such efforts must be supported.