Global piracy down 20pc in first half of 2010

GLOBALLY piracy incident declined 20 per cent in the first half of 2010 year on year, and continues to be concentrated on the coast of Somali with 100 attacks against 196 worldwide with 27 hijackings according the International Maritime Board.

Attacks decreased in Nigerian waters, but doubled in the South China Sea with Malaysia and Indonesia incidents increasing.

According to data from January to June 2010 the attacks included 31 vessels hijacked, 48 fired upon and 70 vessels boarded of which a total of 597 seafarers held hostage with one crewman dead and 16 injured.

IMB director Pottengal Mukundan said despite decreases in attacks, helped by naval patrols, the migration of pirates from the coast into the Indian Ocean poses different challenges.

To maintain presence is vital to disrupt pirate groups, said Captain Mukundan, "the adoption of the Best Management Practices put out by industry bodies and the naval co-ordination groups" is vital to bringing down the number of attacks.

An area of most concern is the southern Red Sea, outside of the area affected by monsoon storms which has seen the hijacking of Marshall Island-flagged chemical tanker Motivator.
(Source:www.schednet.com)