Group: Pirate attacks up 10 percent in 2007

[unhappycamper]

Group: Pirate attacks up 10 percent in 2007
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jan 9, 2008 7:17:27 EST

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Global pirate attacks rose by 10 percent in 2007, marking the first increase in three years as sea robbers made a strong comeback in Nigeria and Somalia, an international maritime watchdog said Wednesday.

Last year, there were 269 attacks on ships, up from 239 in 2006 and reversing a downtrend seen since 2003, the International Maritime Bureau said in its annual report released by its piracy reporting center in Malaysia.

“The significant increase in the <2007> numbers can be directly attributed to the increase in the incidents in Nigeria and Somalia,” IMB director Pottengal Mukundan said in a statement.

Attacks in Nigeria surged to 42 from 12 cases in 2006, he said. Somalia reported a threefold increase of 31 cases, from 10 in 2006.

The IMB report said pirates were better armed and more violent in 2007, with 18 vessels hijacked worldwide, 292 crew members taken hostage, five killed and three still missing.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_pirates_080109/

[krispos42]

1. Excellent. Global warming will now be reduced

Pastafarians rejoice!






RAmen.

[ClintonTyree]

2. Yarrrrr matey...

those were my very thoughts, indeed. There will be dancing in the streets of Port Royal tonight says I. ;)