Somali piracy remains a major threat even though the international attention has shifted away from the problem, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) secretary Peter Hinchliffe said Monday.
His comments come as the global trade group praised the recent extension of European Union Naval Force (EU Navfor)'s Operation Atalanta until the end of 2018.
The extension will see European naval forces continue to protect shipping from piracy attacks off the African nation. The mandate was to expire at the end of this year.
Piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden and Somalia's Indian Ocean coast have declined significantly since their 2011 peak. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported just three incidents this year in the region, with no hijackings.
Hinchliffe (pictured) says the presence of military forces has been essential to suppressing pirate activities, it plays a critical role in preventing a rebound in attacks.
"It is a fact that the threat which Somali piracy presents to international trade is still extremely high," he said.
"Alongside a strong military deterrent, it remains essential that ships maintain compliance with the industry’s best management practises to prevent a resurgence of hijacks and kidnappings by these violent criminal gangs."
Overall, piracy and armed robbery of ships is at a 20-year low, with most attacks taking place in West Africa and South East Asia, according to IMB.
