Piracy

[easterly]

Does anyone have the actual statistics of piracy? I searched the forum and only found 2 threads on the issue. I also noticed in the locked thread it said several in the last few years. Are we talking about once a year per thousands of boaters in the Carib? Just the facts please, and don't bring guns into this.

[camaraderie]

There are NO actual statistics on "piracy" and everyone has different definitions of piracy. If you are talking about being attacked and boarded while underway at sea...that almost never happens in the Carib. If you are talking about having your dinghy stolen while you left it unsecured...that happens quite a bit depending on the island and who is in or out of the local hoosegow at the moment. I would not be concerned about violent crime on board at anchor or on land except in a very few places in the caribe...mostly on land.

[witzgall]

I think noonsite.com is a good source to visit if you want to read up on piracy.

Chris

[deepblueme]

It's not stats but has intresting reading on lost/damaged ships/boats and reported Piracy incidents.
The Cargo Letter Vessel Casualties

[GordMay]

The likelihood of being victimized afloat is very small, as would be the comfort of being the statistical anomaly.

By our own Scott Neuman
Piracy in modern Southeast Asia, setting the record straight.
Bianca Hein - Piracy series project

According to Klaus Hympendahl, who sells* his book “YACHT PIRATERIE – DIE NEUE GEFAHR” (Yacht Piracy – The New Peril), about 200 yachts have been attacked since 1996(about 20/year worldwide).

* He might have a vested interest in selling the fear of piracy.

Registration of pirate attacks since 1996:
Yacht Piracy - Information Centre for Bluewater Sailors

Arms aboard – helpful or not? Yacht Piracy - Information Centre for Bluewater Sailors

Modern Day Piracy Statistics; Modern Day Piracy Statistics

Numerous “Maritime Security and Piracy” links:
Modern Maritime Piracy

Caribbean Safety and Security Net: Welcome to the Caribbean Safety and Security Net

Noonsite “Piracy” page: http://www.noonsite.com/General/Piracy

[cabo]

The January issue of Cruising World has a good article on the subject, "Precautions in Paradise". Still safer cruising than on land. Unless you never leave you couch.

[Pblais]

Does anyone have the actual statistics of piracy?

Piracy would fall under the category of armed robbery. Kidnapping and rape could perhaps be thrown in as well. That would include with or without eye patches as well as optional flags. I don't think there is a distinction made any more so the term "piracy" seems to have disappeared as a crime in favor of the more conventional actual types of crime. None of it is as common as just general theft which is not uncommon most any place.

As noted Noonsite has about the best records as far as where cruisers tend to go as far as reported crimes. They have a more systematic means of keeping track.

[easterly]

OK so boatjacking, robbery, ect is maybe 10 per year in the Carib, / by the number of yachts = < 1 in 10,000 chance of being a victim. Seems like pretty good odds to me. Your odds go down even further if you stay away from Venezuela.

[rebel heart]

Most of the places to avoid are the same places you'd avoid on land (Somalia, Ivory Coast, Yemen, Djibouti, North Korea, etc). It's a good guess that if the situation on the interior is all screwed up, their coast is as well. I mean Somalia still doesn't even have a government, so there's not really much standing in the way of would be pirates.

Stay offshore when passing risky areas. Go in with other vessels if possible. Keep radio chatter to a minimum. On approach to the Suez canal you'll pass by Bab-el-Mandeb, which is an incredibly busy shipping corridor north of the Gulf of Aden. Stay in the shipping lanes and don't get too close to the shore. Turdball coastal "priates" aren't seen often in deep water. They have pretty crappy little boats.

[AnchorageGuy]

if you want to experience piracy first hand walk into any West Marine or most any boat store.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Chuck Baier

if you want to experience piracy first hand walk into any West Marine or most any boat store.

Ha ha...here here...

[pixie]

Been with the bahamas air sea rescue for 6 years now , have had a few power speed boats stolen for the motors , but no hijackings. we did have one sail boat drift into northern Bahmas with no one on board sails tatered and the boat looking bad, never did find out what happened , or the owners . We think it broke loose and driffted after the three big hurricanes and not piracy. did have one reported boarding by Cubian navy and took a lot on board as they held the persons under suspison of drugs, let them go after they got what they wanted. advice stay in the known Bahamas or islands stay away from places you would not visit by land.

[billyehh]

The Caribbean Compass has an article this month about incidents in the Eastern Caribbean. It seems that the number has gone down all over, but you should still use common sense by locking your dingy both at the boat and ashore, cllose and lock your hatches when away and don't exhibit cospicuoius consumption. The problems are still int he usual places ie. west coast of St. Vincent, Southern St. Lucia, Trinidad and of course Venezuala. All of these area are getting better, but be cautious, not paranoid.

[Reality Check]

In the BVI it is almost none existent because it would be very difficult to get away.... sure a few dinks are reported stolen and outboards taken..... as frequently by non locals as locals.

From what I have seen... it is less chance "if you take reasonable precautions" than having your auto broken into in the states. Flash expensive things and leave them accessible then they may grow legs and walk off. Many of the Carib Islands look at "Thievin differently than stealing"... if you make it easy... leave it laying around that is only Thievin and rather OK and the local police do not make much of a show to investigate... however if they break into something that is totally different and if some one is Physically injured in any way then a significant investigation is undertaken with often very quick results.... they know the "usual suspects".

Don't cruise looking like a tourist.... I know one boat with a sign on it "Protected by Poverty". AND do not do things that make people dislike you... follow the flow of the specific place your in and "read" the problem areas and take any necessary precautions such and not being out alone after dark in areas such as St. Thomas along the waterfront, flashing a roll of $100.00 bills!!!