Sharp Fall In Piracy Off Somalia Coast, Says Maritime Watchdog

Bernama
Friday, October 18, 2013

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The world's maritime watchdog said attacks in seas around Somalia continued to fall dramatically with only 10 incidents attributed to Somali pirates this year, down from 70 in the same period in 2012.

In its latest report, the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB) however warned of the threat of continuing violent attacks off the east and west coasts of Africa, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The vital role of the navies off the coast of Somalia should not be underestimated. Their presence ensures that pirates do not operate with the impunity they did before," IMB director Pottengal Mukundan said.

He said the drop in piracy attacks is due to increased and active military action on suspected skiffs, military land based anti-piracy operations, preventive measures and increased armed guards on board ships.

According to the IMB, the modus operandi of the Somali pirates is to attack ships in the northern, eastern and southern cost of Somalia.

"Continued vigilance and hardening is encouraged not only for the merchant fleets but more so for the fishing and dhow fleets which remain softer targets," the report said.

IMB said piracy on the world's seas is at its lowest third-quarter level since 2006. The report shows 188 piracy incidents in the first nine months of 2013, down from 233 for the same period last year.

Hostage taking has also fallen markedly, with 266 people taken hostage this year compared with 458 in the first three quarters of 2012.

With fewer attacks off Somalia, Mukundan said attention has moved to the Gulf of Guinea, a hotspot for violent piracy and ship hijacking for many years.

The Gulf of Guinea recorded more than 40 piracy attacks in the first three quarters of 2013.

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