Petrol piracy also sometimes called oil piracy or petro-piracy, is an act of piracy that specifically involves petroleum resources, or their transportation, consumption, and regulation. It should not be confused with the term oil war, as although both involve petroleum, petrol piracy always involves at least one of the aggressors being ship or boat-borne. Although, it may seem not as prevalent in today's modern society due to plummeting oil prices and lower attack rates, a number of specific incidents have still occurred in-addition to the fact that since the start of COVID-19 there has been an unprecedented resurgence in piracy incidents (petrol piracy-included). In contrast to traditional piracy, petroleum ships are generally targeted over merchant, as it serves as a means to fight back against 'resource control' within the region.
List of notable maritime petrol piracy acts
- Maritime Jewel (2002)
- Previously called the 'MV LIMBURG', this oil tanker suffered an explosion and corresponding fire considered to be the result of an attack.
- MV Sirius Star (2008)
- This crude oil tanker was the largest ship to ever be attacked by pirates.
- Nave Andromeda incident (2020)
- The oil tanker 'Nave Andromeda' was the target of a suspected hijacking, involving 7 stowaways in October 2020.
- Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (2021)
- The MV MOZART was boarded by pirates in January 2021, and 1 crewman was killed in the event.
Increased activity in 2020 due to COVID-19
In the most recent copy of the IMB's piracy report, signs show of piracy activity doubling in areas with previously very low numbers. This is attributed due to a stronger economic downturn then usual, as a result of COVID-19. Current hot-spots include areas like the Gulf of Aden and the Western African nation of Guinea, an affluent jewel when it comes to illicit petroleum, due to its geographical positioning in relation to several sources of oil along the coast.
See also
- Piracy in the 21st century
- Petrostate
- Petro-aggression
- Maritime terrorism in Southeast Asia
- Resource curse
- Petro-piracy in the Gulf of Guinea
References
- Murphy, Martin N. (1 June 2013). "Petro-Piracy: Oil and Troubled Waters". Orbis. 57 (3): 424–437. doi:10.1016/j.orbis.2013.05.011. ISSN 0030-4387.
- ^ Nwalozie, Chijioke J (31 August 2020). "Exploring Contemporary Sea Piracy in Nigeria, the Niger Delta and the Gulf of Guinea". Journal of Transportation Security. 13 (3–4): 159–178. doi:10.1007/s12198-020-00218-y. ISSN 1938-7741. PMC 7457895.
- Orogun, Paul S. (1 October 2010). "Resource control, revenue allocation and petroleum politics in Nigeria: the Niger Delta question". GeoJournal. 75 (5): 459–507. doi:10.1007/s10708-009-9320-7. ISSN 1572-9893. S2CID 153474254.
- "LIMBURG - Oil Spill, Yemen, 6th October 2002" (PDF). www.pcs.gr.jp. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- "Tanker stowaways: Seven men arrested over ship's 'hijacking'". BBC News. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- "Maritime piracy hotspots persist during 2020 | Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide". www.hellenicshippingnews.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- "ICC-IMB Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships Report –Second Quarter 2020" (PDF). ICC International Maritime Bureau. July 2020.
- Balogun, Wasiu Abiodun (2018). "Crude oil theft, petrol-piracy and illegal trade in fuel - Research Portal | Lancaster University". doi:10.17635/lancaster/thesis/467.
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