A marked drop has been recorded this year in the number of pirate attacks in the busy Straits of Malacca, a watchdog body said today.

The straits, used by some 50,000 ships a year carrying a third of world trade, saw attacks drop to 10 up to September, compared to 25 in the same period last year.

In a statement, the Piracy Reporting Centre of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said the increase in maritime patrols by Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore had contributed to this.

"After the tsumani struck on Dec 26 last year, there were no incidents in the Malacca Straits for the next two months. However, since the end of February, 10 attacks have occurred," it said.

Pirate attacks worldwide also dropped 18 percent to 205, but Indonesian waters remained the most dangerous. There were 61 attacks in Indonesian waters, accounting for nearly one-third of the total reports.

"Violence and intimidation of crew continues to be the hallmark of these attacks (worldwide), with many of the pirates armed with guns and knives," it said.

The IMB said 259 seafarers were taken hostage worldwide, 10 kidnapped for longer periods, 19 were assaulted and 12 remained missing over the period. Tere were 251 pirate attacks during the corresponding period last year.

"In some incidents pirates operated in large groups and attacked vessels from different directions at the same time," it said.

The IMB said ships were boarded in 141 instances, 15 ships were fired upon and 11 ships hijacked.

Hot spots

Although the decline in the number of attacks was welcomed, there was concern that in some key hot spots, the situation has worsened.

"After a quiet spell of nearly two years, serious attacks have resumed off the eastern and north-eastern coast of Somalia," it said.

The IMB said there were 19 incidents off the coast of Somalia compared to one in the same period last year.

"In one incident, a vessel was lured closer inshore when it saw distress flares fired from the vicinity of the attackers. In seven incidents crews were held hostage and ransom demanded," it said.

Capt P Mukundan, London-based director of the IMB, said there was a risk of Somalia "descending into a haven for criminals who may feel encouraged to extend their activities into the wider region".

He said the IMB had been transmitting daily warning to ships to keep as far away as possible from the Somalia coast.

The IMB said there was a new and worrying trend of attacks off Basra oil terminal in Iraq.

"So far, attacks in and around Iraq were almost non-existent. However, since April 22, six serious incidents were reported despite the proximity of coalition naval ships."

Another area of concern was around the Bonny River in Nigeria, adding that since May 24 four incidents have occurred.

Ports and anchorages that are prone to attacks are Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port and Balikpapan also in Indonesia as well as Chittagong in Bangladesh. All recorded a higher number of attacks, the IMB said. - AFP