Global piracy drops in November to lowest level in 2011: GAC
Global pirate activity dropped in November to the lowest level in 2011, shipping and marine services company GAC said Thursday."Poor weather and low success rates" resulted in a "significant reduction in attacks off East Africa and in the Indian Ocean," GAC said in its monthly report on piracy, Platts reports.
November piracy incidents dropped to 10 from 18 in October off East Africa with four attacks in the Indian Ocean and six in the Gulf of Aden and off Yemen.
"No vessels were successfully hijacked by Somali pirates in November, with only one confirmed report of a vessel boarded," the company said.
Two vessels were released from Somalia "for a reported total of $8 million," the report said, adding that the "yearly average ransom amounts remain at $4.6 million".
Currently at least 16 ships and 300 crew members are being held, GAC said.
In West Africa, three supply vessels off Nigeria were attacked and three foreign crew members taken from one vessel.
Expectations for December are for a sustained low level of piracy in the Indian Ocean due to bad weather and low success rates, but attacks are likely to increase "in the calmer waters in the Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the Mozambique Channel," GAC said.
More attacks "on oil installations, tankers and supply vessels" are also expected in the Niger Delta, the report said.
November piracy incidents dropped to 10 from 18 in October off East Africa with four attacks in the Indian Ocean and six in the Gulf of Aden and off Yemen.
"No vessels were successfully hijacked by Somali pirates in November, with only one confirmed report of a vessel boarded," the company said.
Two vessels were released from Somalia "for a reported total of $8 million," the report said, adding that the "yearly average ransom amounts remain at $4.6 million".
Currently at least 16 ships and 300 crew members are being held, GAC said.
In West Africa, three supply vessels off Nigeria were attacked and three foreign crew members taken from one vessel.
Expectations for December are for a sustained low level of piracy in the Indian Ocean due to bad weather and low success rates, but attacks are likely to increase "in the calmer waters in the Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the Mozambique Channel," GAC said.
More attacks "on oil installations, tankers and supply vessels" are also expected in the Niger Delta, the report said.