Somali Pirates Seize 80% Fewer Ships as Early Strikes Work

Somali pirates seized almost 80 percent fewer ships in the final three months last year as pre-emptive strikes by naval forces deterred attacks, a group tracking incidents worldwide said.

Pirates from the East African country attacked 31 vessels and captured four, the London-based International Maritime Bureau said in a report today. They attempted 90 hijackings and seized 19 a year earlier. Worldwide attacks fell for the first time in five years in 2011, aided by the intervention of naval forces, the bureau said.