Pirate attacks fall to five year low in 2012
Pirate attacks were a five-year low globally in 2012 according to piracy watchdog the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), Seatrade Asia online reports.
The number of attacks reported last year was 297 compared to 439 in 2011, due largely to a sharp drop in piracy off Somalia, although East and West Africa remain the top blackspots with 150 attacks last year.
“IMB’s piracy figures show a welcome reduction in hijackings and attacks to ships. But crews must remain vigilant, particularly in the highly dangerous waters off East and West Africa,” said Pottengal Mukundan, director of IMB.
Off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden 75 ships were reported attacked last year compared to 237 in 2011. The number of hijackings in the region fell from 28 to 14 last year.
