PIRATE attacks at sea fell 23.9 per cent globally in the third-quarter to 188 incidents year on year, the lowest level since 2006, according to the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
But pirate attacks off the West African coast soared 33 per cent this year as gangs to snatched cargo and crew, according the Kuala Lumpur-based IMB.
Overall hostage-taking was still down 72.1 per cent in the first three quarters year on year with 266 taken hostage and 34 kidnapped in which one seafarer was killed, 20 injured and one reported missing.
Indonesia is one area where there is an increase in armed robbery against ships, noting that 68 took place against vessels at anchor.
Robbers boarding the vessels, mostly at anchor were usually armed with knives or machete. IMB calls for increased patrols, and warns ships to stay alert in these waters.
"Although the number of attacks is down, the threat remains, particularly in the waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Guinea. It is vital that ship masters continue to be vigilant," said IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan.
The decline is attributed to the presence of naval forces, shipboard armed security contractors, as well as the stabilising influence of the Central Government of Somalia.
"The vital role of the navies off the coast of Somalia should not beunderestimated. Their presence ensures that pirates do not operate with theimpunity they did before," said Capt Mukundan.
As monsoons subside in north west Indian Ocean the weather will become more conducive for small pirate skiffs to operate again, reports GAC Hot Port News.
As of September 30, suspected Somali pirates held two vessels forransom with 15 crew. In addition, 49 kidnapped crew were still held on land, 37 of whom have been held for more than two years.
With fewer attacks off Somalia, attention has moved to the Gulf of Guinea, a hotspot for violent piracy and ship hijacking for many years.
Unlike the Somali situation, where vessels speed by with shipboard armed guards, West African tankers lie at anchor when attacked as they wait to do business with cargo sources in West Africa, Reuters reports.
There were four separate attacks around Ivory Coast this year versus three in the 2012.
Danish security contractors Risk Intelligence estimated 117,000 tonnes of oil products, mostly diesel gasoil, worth US$100 million had been stolen by Gulf of Guinea pirates since 2010.
Said Nigerian Navy Cmdr Kabir Aliyu: "We have tracking systems for monitoring boats in our waters from control rooms, we have increased the numbers of patrols and the air force is helping with aerial monitoring."
Authorities had boosted their fleet of counter-piracy patrol boats to 11 vessels from eight previously, Cmdr Aliyu said.
In August, Nigeria's navy killed 12 pirates in a gun battle as they tried to flee from a fuel tanker they had hijacked. Ghana's navy separately in August intercepted a ship and arrested its crew.
"Armed robberies, hijackings and incidences of kidnap for ransom are likely to continue up to, and possibly beyond, 150 nautical miles from the coast," said Rory Lamrock of British-based security firm AKE.
West Africa recorded more than 40 piracy attacks in the first three quarters of 2013, with 132 crew taken hostage and seven vessels hijacked - six tankers and an offshore supply vessel.
The Gulf of Guinea accounted for all crew kidnappings worldwide, 32 of them off Nigeria, and two off Togo.
Nigeria, the main source of piracy in the region, accounted for 29 piracy incidents, including two hijackings, 11 ships boarded, 13 vessels firedupon and three attempted attacks.
Coordinated patrols by Benin and Nigerian Authorities have helped reduce attacks in parts of the Gulf of Guinea. However, the IMB warned that pirates move around the region if left unchecked, citing the hijacking of a tanker off Port Gentil, Gabon in July 2013.
PIRACY
21 October 2013 - 22:26
Pirate attacks at sea fall 23pc in third quarter, lowest in 7 years: IMB
PIRATE attacks at sea fell 23.9 per cent globally in the third-quarter to 188 incidents year on year, the lowest level since 2006, according to the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
PIRACY
21 October 2013 - 22:26
Pirate attacks at sea fall 23pc in third quarter, lowest in 7 years: IMB
This news 14198 hits received.
These news may also interest you