Control Risks releases 2015 forecast
Maritime crime rose by 26% in 2014.
Control Risks releases 2015 forecast
Public interest in maritime crime may have waned in parallel to a reduction in hijacks off Somalia in recent years, but maritime risk remains firmly on the international agenda. The number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea rose by 26% in 2014, according to Control Risks’ records – the highest level of activity since 2011 – during what proved to be a transitional year for global piracy.
Attacks perpetrated by Nigerian groups in the Gulf of Guinea declined by 12% in 2014 and Somali pirate activity accounted for just 4% of the global total. Elsewhere, in a development that reflected a geographical shift in maritime crime, the Americas overtook Africa in terms of absolute numbers of incidents. Asia, meanwhile, not only accounted for the majority (30%) of attacks but also registered the highest level of activity for over a decade.
Despite the obvious threat posed by piracy, a greater proportion of maritime operators are likely to be affected by broader political, operational and security risks in the year ahead. Civil conflict and political instability in countries adjacent to key waterways will complicate mobilisation and transhipment. Geopolitical uncertainty over Russian sanctions will continue to impact dry bulk, container and tanker shipping. Oil and gas operators will face further scrutiny from activist groups over Arctic drilling. Meanwhile, an increase in the number of migrants fleeing conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East will place further strain on Mediterranean shipping routes. These are just some of the themes to be found in the pages ahead.
The maritime domain in many ways represents the ultimate complex and hostile operating environment. Maritime operators have a high risk tolerance and have expertly mitigated a variety of offshore hazards for centuries, but remain exposed to fluid and ever-changing dynamics onshore. In our Maritime Risk Forecast 2015, Control Risks analyses some of the key issues that are likely to impact the maritime community over the next 12 months.
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