Despite piracy at sea falling to its lowest level since 2006, there were 21 hijacks last year compared to 12 in 2013 worldwide.
IMB’s annual piracy report shows 245 incidents were recorded over the globe in 2014, a 44% drop since Somali piracy peaked in 2011.
South East Asia and West Africa were the areas where most piracy incidents occured.
Besides the hijacked vessels, 183 ships were boarded and 13 fired upon, with gunmen taking 442 hostages, compared with 304 in 2013.
Four crew members were killed, 13 were injured and nine were kidnapped from their vessels.
Pottengal Mukundan, director of IMB, said: “The global increase in hijackings is due to a rise in attacks against coastal tankers in South East Asia.
“Gangs of armed thieves have attacked small tankers in the region for their cargoes, many looking specifically for marine diesel and gas oil to steal and then sell.”
IMB notes that attacks are becoming increasingly violent lately with pirates using guns and long knives.
Mukundan said: “It is important that these gangs are caught and punished under law before the attacks become more audacious and violent.”
