AlHijjah 6, 1433, Oct 22, 2012, SPA -- Pirate attacks worldwide dropped to the lowest level since 2009 amid intensified policing and interventions by international navies, a monitoring organization said Monday. The Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau said attacks slid to 233 incidents in the first nine months of the year, the lowest third quarter total since 2009. "We welcome the successful robust targeting of Pirate Action Groups by international navies in the high-risk waters off Somalia, ensuring these criminals are removed before they can threaten ships," dpa quoted bureau director Captain Pottengal Mukundan as saying. The agency said 70 incidents were reported off the Somalian coast during January-September, down from 199 for the same period in 2011. It said just one ship reported an attempted attack by Somali pirates from July to September, compared with 36 incidents in the same three months last year. "It's good news that hijackings are down, but there can be no room for complacency: these waters are still extremely high-risk and the naval presence must be maintained," Mukundan said. He said Somali pirates were still holding 11 vessels for ransom with 167 crew as hostages. The agency expressed concern over an increase in piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, to 34 incidents during January-September from 30 in the same period last year. It also noted an increase of piracy in the seas around the Indonesian archipelago, with 51 incidents reported in the first nine months of the year.
