The latest International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Global Report on Piracy and Armed Robbery indicates a decrease in reported incidents in the Gulf of Guinea region. Maritime piracy in the area drops to seven and crew abductions fall to zero in the first quarter of 2022.

No crew abductions were reported in the waters of the Gulf of Guinea in the first quarter of 2022, a very significant change from the 40 crew abductions during the same period in 2021. The IMB noted that the efforts of maritime authorities in the region, in addition to the efforts of regional and international navies, resulted in a reduction in reported incidents from 16 in the first quarter of 2021 to seven during the same period in 2022. In the same period, kidnappings increased from 40 to zero.

The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, however, urges coastal response agencies and independent international navies to " continue their efforts to ensure that piracy is continuously combated in these high-risk waters," summarizes the IMB. But the IMB report says sustained efforts are needed to ensure the continued safety of seafarers in West African waters.