The Hindu Business Line : Drop in piracy attacks on ships in India

The figures
Malacca Straits has shown an improvement with three attacks as compared with eight for the same period in 2005.
Although the number of attacks overall remains the same, there is worry that in some key hotspots the situation has deteriorated.

Chennai , July 25

The number of worldwide reported piracy attacks on ships in the first six months of 2006 was 127, the same as in the corresponding period in 2005, according to the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB), which offers ship masters the facility to report attacks at any time, wherever they are in the world.

In its Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships report, the IMB said ships were boarded in 74 instances and 11 ships were hijacked. There were 156 instances of crew taken hostages - highest in the last 12 years - compared to 31 during the corresponding period last year; 13 crew were kidnapped and six crew killed. Pirates operate in large groups attacking the vessel from different directions simultaneously, the report said.

Indonesia recorded 33 incidents, which was the highest number this half year, followed by Bangladesh with 22. Violence and intimidation of crew continues to be a hallmark of these attacks, with many of the pirates armed with guns and knives.

Malacca Straits has shown an improvement with three attacks as compared with eight for the same period in 2005. However, since the end of June 2006, three more incidents within a two-day period have been reported in the Malacca Straits, the report said.

In India, the number attacks declined to three in the first six months of the current year compared to eight during the corresponding period last year. Two ships were hijacked, and in one incident, pirates boarded the ship, the report said.

Although the number of attacks overall remains the same, there is worry that in some key hotspots the situation has deteriorated. Eight attacks have been reported off the eastern coast of Somalia where pirates armed with guns and grenades have attacked ships. The eastern and north-eastern coasts of Somalia continue to be high-risk areas for hijackings. IMB warns that ships not making scheduled calls to ports in these areas should stay at least 200 miles from the eastern coast of Somalia.

The report identifies ports and anchorages, more prone to attacks. Chittagong and Jakarta (Tg Priok) were recorded as having the highest number of attacks, 22 and 8 reported respectively.