Piracy And Armed Robbery Against Ships In Latin America And The Caribbean 2017

Main Messages:

  • In 2017, Oceans Beyond Piracy recorded 71 incidents, a 163 percent increase over 2016.
  • Anchorage crime against yachts continues as the most pressing issue. Incidents involving yachts made up roughly 59 percent of all cases.
  • Anchorages in Venezuela, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Colombia, and St. Lucia represented incident hotspots in Latin America and the Caribbean during 2017.

 

In 2017, Oceans Beyond Piracy recorded 71 incidents in Latin America and the Caribbean. Most incidents in the region occurred in territorial waters, with anchored yachts being the primary targets for attackers.

Mapping Of Attacks In Latin America

Mapping of Attacks in Latin America and Caribbean

 

Overview: Incidents In Latin America And The Caribbean

Seafarers Exposed to Piracy Latin America 2015-2017
Piracy Incident Type Latin America 2017
Piracy by Location Latin America 2017
 

 

Piracy Incidents By Vessel Type 2017 Latin America
Piracy Incident Type Latin America 2017
 
 

 

 


Latin America & The Caribbean Human Cost

In 2017, 854 seafarers were affected by piracy and armed robbery in Latin America and the Caribbean; an increase from 527 impacted seafarers in 2016. A significant increase was observed in failed boardings and attacks, as well as robberies.

Seafarers Exposed to Piracy Latin America 2015-2017
Piracy Incident Type Latin America 2017
Seafarers Exposed to Violence by Pirates Latin America 2017
Piracy and Weapons Latin America 2017

Latin America & the Caribbean: Seafarer Known Nationalities

Piracy and Nationality Lating America 2017

This graphic represents the known nationalities of 229 1 of the 438 seafarers exposed to piracy and armed robbery at sea in 2017 as reported to the IMB. The nationalities of the other 209 are unverified.

 


 

Latin America & The Caribbean Economic Cost

As with last year’s State of Maritime Piracy report, OBP did not calculate a total economic cost for piracy and armed robbery in Latin America and the Caribbean. However, OBP did calculate the value of stolen ship stores and crew belongings. Ship stores were stolen in 41 incidents and crew belongings were reported stolen on 18 occasions in 2017. In total, roughly $949,000 dollars’ worth of goods were stolen in 2017.

                                                                                      

Latin America and the Caribbean: Cost of Stolen Goods

Item Stolen Cost
Ship Stores and Equipment $691,875
Personal Effects $256,815
Total Cost $948,690

 

LINKS TO Other STATE OF MARITIME PIRACY REPORT SECTIONS

Read full East Africa Report

Read full West Africa Report

Read full Asia Report

  • 1. Crew nationalities were not specified in each reported incident. This number, therefore, only includes incidents where nationalities and number of seafarers are known.