It's welcome news for shipping companies and the governments around the world, piracy is on the decline with attacks dropping considerably this year compared to last year.

According to Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Dupuis, force commander, EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) operation Atalanta (Task Force 465), who was in Muscat yesterday, piracy is on the decline due to increased vigilance by the anti-piracy forces. He presented statistics to support his remarks.

In 2011, the total number of attacks between January and May was 176, while in 2012 during the same period it came down to mere 30. Similarly in 2009, 163 cases were reported while in 2010 the number stood at 174.

Since EU launched European Naval Force Somalia -" Operation Atalanta (EU Navfor -" Atalanta) in 2008, it has been successfully performing its mission and contributing to improving maritime security off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean within the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor.

The Council of the EU has decided to extend the operation until December 2014.

Source: Times of Oman