Sea piracy at lowest level in six years, watchdog saysJanuary 15, 2014 - 19:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Piracy at sea is at its lowest level in six years, with 264 attacks recorded - a 40% drop since Somali piracy peaked in 2011, a maritime watchdog has said, according to BBC News. There were only 15 incidents off Somalia last year, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said. This is down from 75 in 2012, and 237 in 2011, its records show. Armed guards on ships, international navy patrols and the "stabilizing influence" of Somalia's government had helped deter pirates, the IMB said. "The single biggest reason for the drop in worldwide piracy is the decrease in Somali piracy off the coast of East Africa," Pottengal Mukundan, IMB's director, said in a statement. "It is imperative to continue combined international efforts to tackle Somali piracy. Any complacency at this stage could re-kindle pirate activity." IMB's annual global piracy report said more than 300 people were taken hostage at sea in 2013 and 21 were injured, nearly all with guns or knives. Indonesia saw the most pirate attacks last year, accounting for more than 50% of all incidents. But the report said they were "low-level opportunistic thefts, not to be compared with the more serious incidents off Africa". Piracy off West Africa made up 19% of attacks worldwide last year, the report said. Nigerian pirates, who accounted for 31 of the region's 51 attacks, were "particularly violent", killing one crew member, and kidnapping 36 people to hold onshore for ransom, the IMB said. In November, a UN and World Bank report said pirates operating off the Horn of Africa, which are some of the world's busiest shipping and humanitarian aid routes, had netted more than $400m in ransom money between 2005 and 2012. Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |