Maritime piracy returned from days of old to become a front-of-mind issue for governments, shipping companies, cruise lines, energy firms, global conglomerates and—perhaps most immediately—for sailors in the earliest part of the 21st Century. Since then, while some former piracy hot spots aren’t as “hot” as they once were, the criminal phenomenon has persisted and spread globally.
When CNBC first examined the world’s most dangerous waters in 2008, Somalian pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden and coastal Somalia easily dominated as the globe’s most prolific, according to data compiled by the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre. Somalia and the Gulf of Aden still have treacherous waters, but no longer the worst: Over the last five quarters, examined here, a new country’s national waters have become the most heavily pirated on earth.
Also changed are the tactics used to combat piracy. National navies have become much more active in the fight against piracy, and commercial tankers and cargo vessels increasingly employ armed security—a concept that was rare and even discouraged in many maritime circles as recently as 2008.
As may be expected, however, as greater arms have come to bear against the pirates, the maritime brigands have honed their tactics and beefed up their armament as well. Read on here for a look at the world’s most pirate-infested waters, and learn about individual attacks from each place.

1. Indonesia (43 Pirate Attacks Since January 1, 2012)
Attacked Vessel: Rudolf Schulte
National Flag: Singapore
Vessel Type: Chemical Tanker
Date: Sept. 3, 2012

Indonesia’s 17,500 islands and their surrounding waters now take the title as the world’s most heavily pirated. Shortly before 11 p.m. at Belawan Anchorage, the docked Rudolf Schulte, shown here, was boarded by six pirates who climbed aboard using a long bamboo pole topped with a metal hook. A sailor on duty spotted the men, who were armed with guns and knives. The pirates noticed the sailor as well, and attacked him as he tried to contact the ship’s bridge on a handheld radio. The robbers swiped his walkie-talkie, thrust him to the deck and bound him. They then turned to the ship’s stores and began to plunder. The raiding may have distracted the pirates, however, as the sailor managed to free himself and take off on foot toward the bridge. He raised a general alarm. The sound frightened the pirates, who fled. Indonesian authorities were informed, but as is often the case, their efforts were too little, too late. The six pirates, with their contraband, escaped into the night, free to attack again.

2. Somalia (31 Pirate Attacks)
Attacked Vessel: MSC Jasmine
National Flag: Panama
Vessel Type: Container
Date: Jan. 5, 2013

Somalian piracy isn’t as widespread as it was five years ago, but it’s still a serious problem. The mostly Ukrainian crew of MSC Jasmine was underway in broad daylight when six pirates in a skiff began chasing their ship. Shortly afterward, the attackers opened fire with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. The master of MSC Jasmine raised an alert, sent most of his sailors to the ship’s citadel, and ordered his security team to return fire. The pirates retreated, but didn’t get far. Two warships responding to MSC Jasmine’s distress signal, the American USS Halyburton and French FS Surcouf, intercepted the skiff and caught its mother ship to boot. Twelve pirates were taken into custody.

[b]3. Nigeria (22 Pirate Attacks)
Attacked Vessel: PM Salem
National Flag: Honduras
Vessel Type: Offshore Support Vessel
Date: Dec. 13, 2012

Pirates arm themselves no matter where on the globe they operate, but perhaps no pirates on earth arm themselves with such high-caliber weapons as the pirates in Nigeria have over the last year. PM Salem was underway about 25 nautical miles southwest of Bayelsa, Nigeria, when pirates in a boat approached quickly from the rear of the vessel. The interlopers were armed with machine guns, and began firing on PM Salem, pictured, as they chased the Honduran vessel. The ship’s master opened up his throttle, fired off a distress message and ordered all crew except for himself and the onboard security team to a safe room. The security team took positions on PM Salem’s stern and returned fire. A vicious fight ensued and went on for 20 minutes before the security team finally drove off the attackers. Their successful efforts came at a horrific price, however: Three security team members were shot, one of them losing his life.[/b]



4. Gulf of Aden (10 Pirate Attacks)
Attacked Vessel: North Sea
National Flag: Singapore
Vessel Type: Tanker
Date: Feb. 22, 2012

Sometimes, the pirates shoot back. Crewmembers aboard the North Sea were already on alert after spotting a suspicious dhow—a wooden sailing vessel that pirates sometimes use as a “mother ship”—in the vicinity. Shortly after, the men saw a small skiff about 1.5 nautical miles away and closing in at 20 knots. The ship’s master sent a distress signal to the UK Maritime Trade Operation, a Royal Navy fleet that runs anti-pirate patrols in the Gulf of Aden. The British, though far distant, replied that they would immediately dispatch a military helicopter. The skiff drew closer, and security personnel aboard the North Sea saw that the pirates were armed with AK-47 assault rifles. Security fired warning shots, and the pirates immediately fired back. A ship-to-ship firefight broke out, with the pirates reeling off more than 50 rounds. Finally, they broke off the attack. Despite an extensive aerial search, the pirates were never located.

5. (tie) India (7 Pirate Attacks)
Attacked Vessel: Maersk Visual
National Flag: Singapore
Vessel Type: LPG Tanker
Date: July 4, 2012

It doesn’t take a speed boat to steal from a ship that’s sitting still. The six pirates who attacked the Maersk Visual, seen here, arrived at the anchored tanker just before 7 a.m. in a long, wooden boat with a sail and oars. The Maersk Visual’s officer of the watch spotted the boat alongside and ordered a sailor to investigate. The sailor spotted two strange men hauling ship property across the deck and gave chase. The pirates jumped into their wooden boat and started rowing. Crewmembers on Maersk Visual raised an alarm and called Visakhapatnam Anchorage port control, but amazingly, the back-to-basics pirates got away with their booty.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/crime-at-sea--the-world-s-most-dangerous-waters-171430018.html

lol
"but perhaps no pirates on earth arm themselves with such high-caliber weapons as the pirates in Nigeria have over the last year. "

LMAO!
epitome of joblessness

lmaooooo

Nigeria and it's brown-laffy-taffy like water

Nigeria does not carry last.

Water no get enemy- Baba Fela

Another stupweed rating.mtcheeew

Shoo! Nigerian pirates are the most armed in the world. LHM!
I now see the reason behind the rankings.

im hungry o... fashola do something

bro is truth. If u go to lagos dey nomally shít in side d laggoon. Wtf, we give up!!!

i love bar beach!!

To curb the issue of piracy in Nigeria is very easy that is if the government wants to do so. It is just to create a rapid respond team with helicopters with upto date assault weapons on them which will make it very easy for them to intervene rapidly whenever a distress call is put across to them.
Shalom

LOOOL i know some nigerians will say we derserve the 1st spot.

Cool. Naija has her very own Jack sparrow.

at least we take 3rd

What won't these clowns rank? Western orgs and their propaganda.
Since you guys don't wanna get a life....I will be expecting another ranking stating Nigeria as 'having the highest burial grounds in the world'

HEEDIOTS!!!

I should have been a multi-millionaire by now but the operations of these pirates keep stalling my business plans. The government should please swiftly do something about them.

ebucha: Water no get enemy- Baba Fela

Hahahaha,tell 'em jawe

This is one of the reasons why I loff my dear country,we no dey carry last!!!!

This is not news na,
Nigeria's ROADS are among the most dangerous
The RAILS are still 1920's style
The AIR is the most dangerous
The waters,..............well said
This is a fact, NIGERIA is the most dangerous place to live as a Nigerian as more NIGERIANS have died in NIGERIA than in all other countries combined.

The last time I checked, we were no1. Check ur fact correctly!

Water has no plural.

manosteel: Water has no plural.

Teacher: waters refer to all body of fresh and sea water of a country.

I have learnt to disregard these reports because of the biased ways the indices and yardsticks used to arrive at such decisions are almost always flawed.

By EPL ratings, we're qualified for Champions League.