Pirate attacks on merchant ships was the lowest in six years in 2013 on action taken against Somalian pirates. This was good news for India as most of the ships that pass through Somalian waters carry Indian crew on board, said a marine officer.

Globally, 264 attacks were recorded last year, a 40 per cent drop after Somali piracy peaked two years ago, the London-based International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said.

The IMB, which tracks global piracy at sea, said 15 incidents were reported off Somalia in 2013, down from 75 in 2012 and 237 in 2011.

Somalian pirates have been deterred due to the key role played by international navies, including India, the hardening of vessels, the use of private armed security teams, and the stabilising influence of Somalian Government, the IMB said in its annual report on piracy at sea.

West African piracy accounted for 19 per cent of the global attacks last year. Nigerian pirates and armed robbers accounted for 31 of the region’s 51 attacks — taking 49 people as hostage and kidnapping 36. Nigerian pirates ventured far into waters off Gabon, Ivory Coast and Togo and pirates were violent, said P. Mukundan, Director, IMB.

Attacks in India and Bangladesh were also low-level and opportunistic. The number of incidents off Indian coast was 14 in 2013. Active patrolling by the Bangladesh Coast Guard has kept the number of incidents off Chittagong at around 12 for the last few years, the report said.

raja.simhan@thehindu.co.in

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