Pirates Took 1,090 Sailors Hostage Last Year

Pirates took 1,090 sailors hostage last year, the world’s three biggest flag states that register vessel ownership said. Panama, Liberia and the Marshall Islands saidin a statement today that 4,185 seafarers were attacked with firearms and rocket propelled grenades, 342 survived attacks in vessels’ security rooms, and 516 were used as human shields. 

The three countries, used by owners from Greece, China and elsewhere to register vessel ownership, said they will sign a joint declaration next week committing to provide data on attacks for the International Maritime Bureau to collate. 

Date: 31 July 2011                                                                                 Source: Bloomberg