Murky Waters: A Look at Piracy Attacks

Seventeen pirate attacks have been reported this year.

Maritime Crime - Although Somali piracy is at an all-time low, according to a report submitted on Wednesday from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations, Nigerian waters are still among the most dangerous in the world. Nigerian pirates attacked an American flagged oil vessel on Thursday, abducting two U.S. citizens. BET.com goes inside recent acts of piracy. — Dominique Zonyéé(Photo: Omer Sukru Goksu/Getty Images)

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Maritime Crime - Although Somali piracy is at an all-time low, according to a report submitted on Wednesday from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations, Nigerian waters are still among the most dangerous in the world. Nigerian pirates attacked an American flagged oil vessel on Thursday, abducting two U.S. citizens. BET.com goes inside recent acts of piracy. — Dominique Zonyéé(Photo: Omer Sukru Goksu/Getty Images)

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Two Americans Abducted on Southern Nigerian Coast - Somali pirates attacked an American flagged oil ship in the Gulf of Guinea on Thursday. Pirates abducted two American citizens — the captain and chief engineer. While details of the attack are still unclear, the U.S. government and the Nigerian Navy are working to understand what happened. This attack highlights a peak in maritime crime off the Nigerian coast.(Photo: Fox News)

Somalia Pirates Hijack Greek Oil Tanker - A Greek-owned oil tanker carrying close to a million barrels of crude oil was hijacked by Somali pirates in May 2012. The tanker, sailing close to the Horn of Africa, thwarted the first attack attempted, but could not hold off the 10 armed pirates for a second time. (Photo: Brad Martin/Getty Images)

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Somalia Pirates Hijack Greek Oil Tanker - A Greek-owned oil tanker carrying close to a million barrels of crude oil was hijacked by Somali pirates in May 2012. The tanker, sailing close to the Horn of Africa, thwarted the first attack attempted, but could not hold off the 10 armed pirates for a second time. (Photo: Brad Martin/Getty Images)

French Oil Tanker Hijacked by Somali Pirates - Sea Tankers, a French owned-Luxembourg flagged oil tanker, went missing in February and was presumed “hi-jacked in international waters” when the ship lost communication with its owners. The ship and the 17 crew members on board have yet to be rescued.(Photo: Doelan Yann/Getty Images)

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French Oil Tanker Hijacked by Somali Pirates - Sea Tankers, a French owned-Luxembourg flagged oil tanker, went missing in February and was presumed “hi-jacked in international waters” when the ship lost communication with its owners. The ship and the 17 crew members on board have yet to be rescued.(Photo: Doelan Yann/Getty Images)

Crew Trapped at Sea for 1,000 Days Rescued From Pirates - After being held captive by Somali pirates for almost three years, the Panama-flagged MV Iceberg was released in December 2012 after a two-week long siege. The Puntland Maritime forces rescued 22 of the original crew members captured in March 2010. One crew member committed suicide while another was killed by pirates in captivity.(Photo: Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images)

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Crew Trapped at Sea for 1,000 Days Rescued From Pirates - After being held captive by Somali pirates for almost three years, the Panama-flagged MV Iceberg was released in December 2012 after a two-week long siege. The Puntland Maritime forces rescued 22 of the original crew members captured in March 2010. One crew member committed suicide while another was killed by pirates in captivity.(Photo: Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images)

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Somali Pirates Hijack British Couple From Yacht - Paul and Rachel Chandler were spending their retirement sailing around the world on their yacht when they were captured by Somali pirates in October 2009. They were released more than a year later when a ransom of more than $2 million was paid to pirates. The negotiations of the Chandlers freedom have not been released.  (Photo: REUTERS)

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Somali Pirates Hijack British Couple From Yacht - Paul and Rachel Chandler were spending their retirement sailing around the world on their yacht when they were captured by Somali pirates in October 2009. They were released more than a year later when a ransom of more than $2 million was paid to pirates. The negotiations of the Chandlers freedom have not been released.  (Photo: REUTERS)

Pirates Attack Cruise Ship Register to the Bahamas - The Seabourn Spirit, a Bahamas registered cruise ship, was under siege in 2005 after Somali pirates fired a rocket-propelled grenade and machine guns at the luxury cruise line off the West African Coast. The vessel’s 151 passengers were unharmed, but one of the 161-person crew was injured by shrapnel.(Photo: Seabourn Cruise Line)

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Pirates Attack Cruise Ship Register to the Bahamas - The Seabourn Spirit, a Bahamas registered cruise ship, was under siege in 2005 after Somali pirates fired a rocket-propelled grenade and machine guns at the luxury cruise line off the West African Coast. The vessel’s 151 passengers were unharmed, but one of the 161-person crew was injured by shrapnel.(Photo: Seabourn Cruise Line)

Somali Pirates Release Hi-Jacked Chemical Tank After a Year - Captured in March 2012 off the coast of Oman, the Panama flagged-MT Royal Grace was held captive by Somali pirates for a year. When pirates received an undisclosed ransom, an EU piracy task force, EU Navor, was alerted in March that the vessel which contained 20 crew-members was finally pirate free.(Photo: CNN)

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Somali Pirates Release Hi-Jacked Chemical Tank After a Year - Captured in March 2012 off the coast of Oman, the Panama flagged-MT Royal Grace was held captive by Somali pirates for a year. When pirates received an undisclosed ransom, an EU piracy task force, EU Navor, was alerted in March that the vessel which contained 20 crew-members was finally pirate free.(Photo: CNN)

Somali Pirates Hold Japanese Tanker for Ransom - The Golden Nori was seized by Somali pirates eight nautical miles off the African Horn coast in October 2007. The Japanese-owned Panama flagged ship contained 21 crew members. After demanding ransom, the pirates released the ship and crew in December 2007.(Photo:Getty Images)

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Somali Pirates Hold Japanese Tanker for Ransom - The Golden Nori was seized by Somali pirates eight nautical miles off the African Horn coast in October 2007. The Japanese-owned Panama flagged ship contained 21 crew members. After demanding ransom, the pirates released the ship and crew in December 2007.(Photo:Getty Images)

Capt. Richard Phillips and the Maersk Alabama - The MV Maersk Alabama contained 17 crew members when it was high-jacked of the Somali coast by four teenage Somali pirates in April 2009. Captain Richard Phillips was taken hostage and held captive on a life boat. The hostage situation came to an end a few days later when U.S. Naval forces killed three pirates and rescued Phillips.  A film based on the story is in theaters now.(Photo: Jeff Snyder/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

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Capt. Richard Phillips and the Maersk Alabama - The MV Maersk Alabama contained 17 crew members when it was high-jacked of the Somali coast by four teenage Somali pirates in April 2009. Captain Richard Phillips was taken hostage and held captive on a life boat. The hostage situation came to an end a few days later when U.S. Naval forces killed three pirates and rescued Phillips.  A film based on the story is in theaters now.(Photo: Jeff Snyder/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Asian Pirates Target Oil Treasure - The Malaysian-registered tanker Zafirah was loaded with marine gas oil off the coast of Vietnam when 11 armed pirates attacked the ship in February. The crew members were forced onto rafts and pirates proceeded to change the route and identity of the vessel. Fortunately, after a 50-minute stand-off with Vietnam's Marine Police, the crew was rescued.(Photo: Sunil Menon/Getty Images)

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Asian Pirates Target Oil Treasure - The Malaysian-registered tanker Zafirah was loaded with marine gas oil off the coast of Vietnam when 11 armed pirates attacked the ship in February. The crew members were forced onto rafts and pirates proceeded to change the route and identity of the vessel. Fortunately, after a 50-minute stand-off with Vietnam's Marine Police, the crew was rescued.(Photo: Sunil Menon/Getty Images)