Report cites Nigeria as growing piracy centre

Nigeria could take over from the coast of Somalia as the world’s piracy hotspot, an Allianz report says. There were 40 reported piracy attacks last year off the coast of Nigeria, and also in the Lagos region and the Boony River. This compares to 53 attacks off the Gulf of Aden, although there have been 109 in the first quarter of 2009, says the report from Allianz Global & Corporate Speciality, titled Piracy:

An Ancient Risk with Modern Faces. In a word of warning to ship owners, it says: “To match pirates’ tactics, boat crews need to be properly trained to employ defenses, such as long-range acoustic devices, securing the ship’s perimeter and maintaining speed in exposed areas, although they are strongly cautioned not to use weapons.”