Attacks on vessels fell to 264 in 2013, down 40% since the2011 peak in the Indian Ocean.
Only 15 incidents were reported off Somalia last year, down from75 in 2012 and 237 in 2011.
But more than 300 people were still taken hostage at sea in2013, with 21 injured.
Hijackings dropped to 12, 202 ships were boarded and 22 werefired on.
Nigerian pirates are now the main concern, killing one crewmanand kidnapping another 36. Their attacks made up 19% of the world total.
“The single biggest reason for the drop in worldwide piracyis the decrease in Somali piracy off the coast of East Africa,” said PottengalMukundan, IMB director.
The presence of international navies and security guards arethe main factors, as well as the influence of Somalia’s central government.
But Mukundan warned: “It is imperative to continue combinedinternational efforts to tackle Somali piracy. Any complacency at this stagecould re-kindle pirate activity.”
Two products carriers were hijacked in Malaysian waters,with 27 crew taken hostage.
Indonesia is the hot spot for armed robbery, accounting formore than 50% of all vessels boarded in 2013.
