Pirate attacks are up 14% over a year ago according to the International Maritime Bureau, a watchdog group. Southeast Asia's Malacca Strait has been relatively calm, but attacks shot up in Nigeria and Somalia.

"A total of 198 attacks on ships were reported between January and September this year, up from 174 in the same period in 2006, the IMB said. It said a total of 15 vessels were hijacked, 63 crew kidnapped and three killed."

Still, Indonesia remains the hotspot for the world, the IMB told the Associated Press: "Indonesia remained the world's worst piracy hotspot, with 37 attacks in the first nine months of 2007 - but that was an improvement from 40 in the same period a year earlier, the IMB said."