Pirate kidnappings hit record high in 2010

"All measures taken at sea to limit the activities of the pirates are undermined because of a lack of responsible authority back in Somalia from where the pirates begin their voyages and return with hijacked vessels," he said.

Elsewhere, the number of maritime armed-robbery incidents in Bangladesh rose for the second successive year. In all, 21 vessels were boarded, almost all anchored in the port of Chittagong.

Indonesia, a former global piracy hotspot, which had succeeded in reducing the level of maritime crime, saw its highest levels of attacks against ships since 2007, with 30 vessels boarded and one hijacked.

The South China Sea was hit with 31 piracy incidents, more than double the previous year, according to the report.

AFP