The Problem of 
Under Reporting
The Problem of
"There is no doubt that attacks on vessels have become more audacious,
more violent, and an issue of serious concern to shipping and seamen,"
the Regional Piracy Center of the International
Maritime Bureau (IMB) said in its most recent annual report, covering
1996. That follows similar comments in the 1996 annual report, covering
1995, which said that "overall, there has been a considerable rise in the
number and ferocity of attacks. Most worrying is the increase in the number
of vessels fired upon and vessels hijacked, where there has been a prolonged
threat with firearms to crew members."
According to new figures released by the IMB global piracy attacks have consistently risen over the last ten years. Moreover, there is serious concern that the problem is being understated and the actual attacks under-reported.
Under-reporting is particularly a problem in Asia, where attacks were grossly under-reported and details often slow to emerge. As a result, there is a shared attitude among ship owners and sea merchants that nothing will be done so there is no point in reporting.
" "There's a tremendous amount of under-reporting," says Eric Ellen, executive director of the Essex-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB). "Ship's Masters don't want to be delayed, or they're not confident of the law enforcement in that country, or they only suffered small losses." He points out that local authorities can often be involved in piracy as well. This has happened with the coast guard in the Philippines and is a perennial problem in the high seas surrounding China, where 'renegade' naval units have hijacked vessels and sold on their cargo."1
"Pirates are also gaining confidence because they so often get away with
it. When Blackbeard terrorized the North Carolina coast of the U.S. in
the early 1700s, navies were powerful and justice summary. Blackbeard's
career ended when his head was sliced off by a Royal Naval broadsword.
These days, concerns over sovereignty and territorial waters foster caution.
Laments Ellen, "There is no law enforcement at sea by anyone--today's navies
are reluctant to intervene in the act of piracy." "2
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