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Somali piracy declines, but armed guards keep in check, says GoAGT

REPORTS from the International Maritime Bureau that piracy is at a six- year low are welcome, but attacks on two ships a month ago show it is not the time to "consign Somali piracy to history", said maritime security company GoAGT.

"Too many factors that encouraged its initial development remain in place. Any one of a relatively small number of catalysts could see Somali pirates return in force," said GoAGT chief executive Nick Davis.

"Just over a month ago two ships were attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Both had armed security teams on board. Had they not, then at least one would have been hijacked," he said in a press release.

Mr Davis said that until the Somali government had proper security and governance in place it was imperative that ships transiting the area have armed security teams on board.

IMB's annual global piracy report shows more than 300 people were taken hostage at sea last year and 21 were injured, nearly all with guns or knives. A total of 12 vessels were hijacked, 202 were boarded, 22 fired upon and a further 28 reported attempted attacks.

Fifteen incidents attributed to Somali pirates in 2013 included two hijacked vessels, both of which were released within a day as a result of naval actions. A further eight vessels were fired upon.

Nigerian pirates were particularly violent, killing one crewman and kidnapping 36 to hold onshore for ransom.