A total of 14 attacks were reported, well below the average number of 21 reported in 2014, according to figures from security consultancy AKE Maritime.

Southeast Asia saw largest decline in incidents with attacks across the region dropping from 18 in August to just nine last month.

As usual, the majority of incidents were low-level robberies in regional anchorages, with the majority of occurring off Singapore.

Notably, no vessels were hijacked for fuel theft this month. In recent months on average one to two vessels per month have been hijacked for fuel theft off Malaysia and Thailand; nine cases have been reported since January.

“There is an ongoing risk of tanker hijacking linked to the illegal fuel trade between Thailand and Malaysia, which has become a common feature of South-East Asian piracy,” said AKE Maritime.

“The risk will remain heighted off Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand over the coming months, as criminal groups recognise that coastal law enforcement assets are unable to respond quickly to incidents occurring further out to sea, and that the criminal business model becomes increasingly viable.”

In the Indian Ocean, which has just seen the High Risk Area (HRA) reduced in size, there were no reports of any incidents.

“A small number of so-called ‘suspicious sightings’ not associated with pirate activity were reported in the Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” said AKE Maritime.

“No exchanges of fire and no piracy-related weaponry, ladders or boarding equipment were sighted in these reports, suggesting that the vessels were unlikely to have been involved in pirate activity.”

Off West Africa attacks dropped compared to last month with only two incidents reported, which is below 2014’s monthly average of five attacks.

One of the incidents was a suspicious sighting, and the other was a failed robbery off Nigeria.

“Whilst attacks on foreign commercial vessels have decreased over the past twelve months container vessels, tankers and energy vessels transiting within 50nm of the Niger Delta States continue to face a heightened risk of armed attack, which can involve kidnap for ransom,” said AKE Maritime.