Piracy around the world is increasing, the London-based organization "International Maritime Bureau" reported, quoted by DPA. The agency reported 45 cases of piracy and armed robbery of ships in the period from January to March this year, BTA writes.
For the same period last year, 33 cases were registered, and in the first quarter of 2023 there were 27 cases. The International Maritime Bureau is part of the International Chamber of Commerce, which is headquartered in Paris.
In the 45 registered cases, "37 ships were boarded, 4 were hijacked, and there were attempts to attack four", the agency reported. "The threat to the safety of the crew remains high," she added, noting that 37 crew members had been taken hostage, 13 had been kidnapped, two had been threatened and one had been injured.
The report highlighted the rise in piracy in the Singapore Strait, which lies between Singapore and Indonesia. There were 27 attacks or attempted attacks there, compared to seven in the same period last year.
The document did not give reasons for the increase.