Nigerian shipping routes are the worst in the world for piracy with 10 of the 49 global pirate attacks in the first quarter reported by London-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
The littoral states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore along the Malacca Strait were praised for their cooperation in patrolling the busy sea lane that posted no incidents in the first quarter.
Indonesia continues to see improvement with four attacks last year compared to 19 in 2006. The IMB commended the police's effective anti-piracy measures.
The strait links Asia with the Middle East and Europe. More than 60,000 ships a year traverse the waterway, carrying about 80 per cent of the energy supplies of Japan and China.
But global piracy on busy merchant shipping lanes was up 41 per cent in Q1 year on year with Nigeria heading pirate attack list.
Violent attacks against crew are concentrated off the Lagos coast with attackers reported to be heavily armed with guns and knives, according to the industry watchdog IMB.
The report said from 36 vessels boarded by pirates, one was hijacked with seven crew members taken hostage, six kidnapped, three killed and one missing presumed dead.
Crew were abducted for ransom in the Gulf of Aden, polling second worst together with Indian waters. Vessels off Aden were reported to have been attacked and then taken to pirate coves in eastern Somalia. The attacks in India were low-level and comprised of goods theft from the vessels.
The littoral states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore along the Malacca Strait were praised for their cooperation in patrolling the busy sea lane that posted no incidents in the first quarter.
Indonesia continues to see improvement with four attacks last year compared to 19 in 2006. The IMB commended the police's effective anti-piracy measures.
The strait links Asia with the Middle East and Europe. More than 60,000 ships a year traverse the waterway, carrying about 80 per cent of the energy supplies of Japan and China.
But global piracy on busy merchant shipping lanes was up 41 per cent in Q1 year on year with Nigeria heading pirate attack list.
Violent attacks against crew are concentrated off the Lagos coast with attackers reported to be heavily armed with guns and knives, according to the industry watchdog IMB.
The report said from 36 vessels boarded by pirates, one was hijacked with seven crew members taken hostage, six kidnapped, three killed and one missing presumed dead.
Crew were abducted for ransom in the Gulf of Aden, polling second worst together with Indian waters. Vessels off Aden were reported to have been attacked and then taken to pirate coves in eastern Somalia. The attacks in India were low-level and comprised of goods theft from the vessels.