The UK shipping industry is urging the UN to act on the growing threat posed by pirates. Official figures show there were 344 pirate attacks worldwide in the first nine months of 2003, compared with 271 in the same period last year.
The number of attacks involving guns has risen from 49 last year to 77 in 2003, with incidents in which knives were used increasing from 99 to 115.
| "Yar! We be fierce pirates! Hand over them jewels, me proud beauty!" |
The first nine months of 2003 have seen 416 violent attacks on seafarers, with 20 killed - compared with six last year - and 43 missing.
| "Arrr! Where'd he go, matey?" |
Britain's Chamber of Shipping, the ships' officers' union Numast and the International Transport Workers Federation are among organisations pressing for action.
The worst area for piracy this year has been Indonesia with 87 incidents, followed by Bangladesh with 37. Attacks in the Malacca Straits in the Far East have increased from 11 in 2002 to 25 this year, while incidents in Nigeria have risen from nine to 28 in the same period. |