Pirate attacks on ships down 23%

Pirate attacks on ships worldwide fell 23% in the first quarter because of stricter policing in India, Malaysia and the Philippines, the International Maritime Bureau said. But crew deaths jumped fivefold.

Attacks totaled 79, down from 103 a year earlier, according to the IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Indonesia had 21 pirate attacks followed by Nigeria with 10. Bangladesh and the Strait of Malacca, between Indonesia and Malaysia, ranked third with eight each.