IFC: 1095 incidents registered in the first half of 2024

#1 Theft, robbery and piracy: Total number of reported incidents: 50 (70 in 2023)

TThe number of incidents has decreased significantly compared to the same period in 2023, likely due to increased enforcement efforts by authorities and vigilance of the shipping community, particularly in the Singapore Strait (SS). However, there has been an increase in incidents in the Chattogram/Kutubdia and Dumai/Lubuk Gaung anchorage areas.

Provided enforcement efforts continue and the shipping community remains vigilant, IFC expects the downward trend in incidents to continue into the second half of 2024. However, there are problem areas such as the anchorages mentioned above where perpetrators may resort to such crimes for socio-economic reasons or due to the need for alternative sources of income after combating other maritime crimes such as IUUF.

#2 Maritime Incidents (MI): Total number of reported incidents: 302 (528 in 2023)

The number of incidents has decreased significantly compared to the same period in 2023. Most of them occurred in the Philippines and Indonesia. Bad weather and equipment failure are the main causes of these incidents.

Based on previous trends, the IFC expects the number of incidents to increase in the second half of 2024. This is likely due to the onset of the southwest monsoon between July and September, which leads to rougher seas and more extreme weather conditions that can impact maritime activities.

Almost 70% of the total number of people killed/missing and rescued were on passenger ships and fishing vessels.

#3 Smuggling of goods: Total number of reported incidents: 376 (434 in 2023)

The number of incidents has decreased compared to the same period in 2023, likely due to increased enforcement efforts and the implementation of economic
Guidelines for certain goods, making smuggling less lucrative.

The IFC expects CS to remain an area of ​​concern in the second half of 2024, likely due to increasingly unstable global economic and political conditions that could impact enforcement efforts.

#4 Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUUF): Total number of reported incidents: 293 (300 in 2023)

The number of incidents is comparable to the number in the same period in 2023, with the majority of them occurring mainly in the waters off Malaysia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

The IFC expects the number of incidents in the second half of 2024 to be similar or even lower than in the previous year, likely reflecting the impact of recent law enforcement efforts as well as initiatives by authorities to educate the industry about IUUF.

#5 Irregular Migration (IHM): Total number of reported incidents: 55 (124 in 2023)

The number of incidents has decreased compared to the same period in 2023, likely due to enforcement efforts by regional authorities. Notably, the number of people moving from Bangladesh and Myanmar to Indonesia and Malaysia has decreased significantly, and the number of migrants entering Australia has increased.

Based on previous trends, IFC expects that economic and political uncertainty, conflict and the displacement of minorities may be the main drivers of irregular migration patterns in the second half of 2024.

#6 Environmental Safety (ENVSEC): Total number of reported incidents: 16 (21 in 2023)

The number of incidents has decreased compared to the same period in 2023. The majority of incidents are related to MARPOL, mainly in waters off China, Malaysia and South Korea.

The IFC expects ENVSEC to remain a concern in the second half of 2024, likely due to continued high levels of maritime activity and the frequency of ship-to-ship transfers on dark vessels, increasing the risk of spills and accidents at sea.

#7 Cybersecurity (CYBSEC): Total number of reported incidents: 3 (13 in the whole of 2023)

The number of incidents has decreased compared to the same period in 2023, likely due to a lack of open source reporting. The IFC expects cybersecurity threats in the industry to remain significant in the second half of 2024, as evidenced by reports of malware penetrating the computer systems of cargo ships in Europe this year.

#8 Maritime Terrorism (MT): Total number of reported incidents: 0 (0 in 2023)

There have been no incidents since 2021, likely due to continued enforcement efforts by authorities.

More info: According to a report from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the IFC recorded 26 incidents in the Singapore Strait from January to July 2024, Most incidents occurred in Phillip Channel and in the waters of Bintan and Batam islands.

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