Piracy blights offshore industry

SOME OF the world's key oil-producing regions are among the most prone to acts of piracy, according to a report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). In its half-yearly round up, the maritime body ranked Indonesia as the most hazardous area, witnessing the most attacks, followed by the Malacca Straits and offshore Nigeria. During the first half of 2004, Indonesia recorded 50 acts of piracy, while the Malacca Straits witnessed 20 attacks and Nigeria 13. Although the level of attacks has decreased compared with the same period in 2003, the number of persons killed doubled. Offshore Nigeria proved the most dangerous place in terms of loss of life. Of the 30 deaths attributed to pirate att