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| Australian Frigate HMAS Melbourne escorting an intercepted Drug Dhow while on Counter-Piracy patrol in the Indian Ocean |
NAIROBI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A global maritime agency said on Monday that piracy and armed robbery at sea has fallen to its lowest levels off the coast of Somalia since 1995 with only one incident recorded in the past six months.
A report released by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) of the International Chamber Commerce (ICC) attributed the fall in piracy attacks to preventive measures deployed by the foreign warships to thwart such attacks.
"The combined efforts of the Navies in the region, along with the increased hardening of vessels and best management practices compliance, employment of privately contracted armed security personnel, and the stabilizing factor of the central government within Somalia have resulted in this positive sign," it said.
It however cautioned ship owners and Masters against complacency, warning that Somali pirates still have the capability and capacity to carry out attacks.
"The IMB believes that a single successful hijacking of a merchant vessel, will rekindle the Somali pirates' passion to resume its piracy efforts," says the report which was compiled between January-June.
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