Officially recorded global maritime security incidents continue to show a continuation of a downward trend, according to Dryad Global’s latest Maritime Security Threat Advisory (MSTA).
The latest MSTA, which was released this week, shows a decrease in total incidents in West Africa, the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, compared to the same period last year. The report shows that total incidents in West Africa are down 62 percent year-on-year, total incidents in the Indian Ocean are down 57 percent year-on-year, and total incidents in South- East Asia are down 35 percent. year after year
The total of 2023 incidents recorded in West Africa, the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia were five, three and 13 respectively, according to the MSTA. The latest MSTA also showed that there have been no hijacking events or crew hijacked in West Africa in 2023, as of March 6.
Dryad’s previous MSTA, which was released on February 27, revealed that total incidents in West Africa, the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia were down 77 percent, 57 percent and 20 percent year-on-year, respectively. The company’s February 20 MSTA showed total incidents in West Africa, the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia were down 67 percent, 57 percent and 13 percent year-on-year, respectively .
Dryad’s January 30 MSTA described total incidents in West Africa, the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia as down 88%, 100% and 29% year-on-year, respectively.
Libya, Gulf of Guinea
In its latest MSTA, Dryad noted that, inside Libya, “rival militants continue several weeks of clashes in and around the key port city of Zawiya.”
“Meanwhile, a security patrol captured a vessel allegedly carrying fuel in the coastal area of Abu Kamash in western Libya. Inside Misrata, customs services have discovered a large quantity of small arms stored in a 20-foot-long container at the city port,” Dryad added to the MSTA.
“As a political stalemate persists, disputes over salaries and funding increase. During the last reporting period, the Libyan Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) has threatened to shut down ports and refineries in western Libya in response to a dispute over unpaid salaries. Libya continues to operate in a state of perpetual crisis with significant tension due to the political deadlock in Tripoli,” Dryad continued.
The company also noted to the MSTA that, within the Gulf of Guinea, “two incidents of ship theft were reported.”
“With the conclusion of the Nigerian presidential election, President-elect Bola Tinubu has received significant support from the maritime sector that promises to consolidate the improvement of security in Nigerian waters and usher in a new era of maritime prosperity for Nigeria,” he stated the MSTA.
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