Pirate activity rises in South China Sea

Pirate activity rises in South China Sea    The South China Sea is rapidly becoming a new hotbed for pirate activity, the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau warned Monday.
   The IMB called attention to a tripling in pirate activity in the South China Sea, where piracy attempts in the past nine months reached 30. It said a small number of groups are probably responsible for the attacks because the attacks bear similar characteristics.
   Criminals operating out of Somalia were responsible for 44 percent of the 289 piracy incidents worldwide during the first three quarters of the year, the IMB reported. Pirates continue to expand their zone of operation, which now extends from the Red Sea to hundreds of miles east in the Indian Ocean.
   In the first nine months of 2010, heavily armed Somali pirates carried out 35 out of 39 ship hijackings. There were more hijackings than in the same period last year (34), despite the fact that there were 17 more recorded piracy incidents.
   Globally, pirates boarded 128 vessels and fired at 52. A total of 70 vessels reported thwarting attacks, the information clearing house reported. Pirates used guns in 137 incident and knives in 66, killing one crewmember, injuring 27 and taking 773 hostages.
   Increased naval activity and precautions by merchant ships have helped reduce the potential danger in the Gulf of Aden and off the East Coast of Somalia, the IMB said.
   There have only been 45 reported attacks in the Gulf of Aden this year compared with 100 in the January-September time frame last year.
   Authorities warn of increased pirate activity now that the monsoon season has ended, making it easier for the small craft used in attacks to operate.