Attacks on civilian ships by pirates around the world are on the sharp rise, a South Korean government tally showed on Sunday.
Pirates attacked 142 ships across the world between January and March this year, up 111.9 percent from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.
About 68 per cent or 97 of the 142 cases happened in waters off Somalia,up about three-fold from a year ago, the tally showed.
A total of 18 ships and 344 crew members were hijacked in the attacks. In one case, pirates only kidnapped sailors without taking over their ship.
Most of the ships were seized by Somali pirates.
The attacks by Somali pirates left a total of 299 sailors abducted, seven killed and three wounded during the period, the ministry said.