KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia\u2014World sea piracy fell for a third straight year in 2013, as Somali pirates were curbed by international naval patrols and improved ship vigilance, an international maritime watchdog said Wednesday.<\/p>\n
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The International Maritime Bureau said global pirate attacks fell to a six-year low of 264, down from 297 in 2012 and 439 in 2011. Pirate attacks have declined since hitting a peak in 2010 with 445 attacks.<\/p>\n
A total of 12 vessels were hijacked, with more than 300 crew members taken hostage and one killed during 2013, according to data compiled by the London-based bureau\u2019s piracy reporting centre in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe single biggest reason for the drop in worldwide piracy is the decrease in Somali piracy off the coast of East Africa,\u201d said IMB director, Capt. Pottengal Mukundan.<\/p>\n
The bureau said only 15 attacks were reported off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, the lowest since 2006. It was also down sharply from 75 cases in 2012 and 237 in 2011. It said the 15 incidents included two hijacked vessels, both which were released within a day as a result of naval actions.<\/p>\n
Somali pirates have been deterred by international navies, stronger vessels, the use of private armed security teams and the stabilizing influence of Somalia\u2019s central government, it said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is imperative to continue combined international efforts to tackle Somali piracy. Any complacency at this stage could rekindle pirate activity,\u201d Mukundan said.<\/p>\n