Transportation - note In 30 editions of 36.

• the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reports that 2013 saw a dramatic 40% decrease in global pirate activities reaching the lowest levels in six years;
• in 2013, pirates attacked a total of 264 ships world-wide including hijacking 12 ships, capturing more than 300 seafarers, and killing one;
• the Horn of Africa saw the biggest drop in pirate activities with only 15 incidents in 2013 compared with 75 in 2012 and 237 in 2011;
• the decrease in successful pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa is due, in part, to more aggressive anti-piracy operations by international naval forces, the hardening of vessels, and the increased use of armed security teams aboard merchant ships;
• attacks in the Straits of Malacca and South China Sea accounted for 50% of ships boarded in 2013;
• West African piracy is a growing threat accounting for 19% of all attacks in 2013;
• Nigerian pirates are very aggressive, operating as far as 175 nm offshore and linked with at least five of the seven hijackings that occurred in this area;
• attacks in South Asian waters remain at low levels although incidents off India have increased each year since 2010 reaching 14 in 2013;
• as of September 2014, there were 163 attacks worldwide with 17 hijackings most in the Straits of Malacca/South China Sea region and West African waters

• while attacks decreased significantly in 2012, the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden remain a high risk for piracy;
• the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, contributed to the drop in incidents

• the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships;
• in 2012, 27 commercial vessels were boarded or attacked compared with 10 attacks in 2011;
• crews were robbed and stores or cargoes stolen;
• Nigerian pirates have extended the range of their attacks to as far away as Cote d'Ivoire

• there is no air connection to Saint Helena or Tristan da Cunha;
• construction on the new international airport for Saint Helena began in 2012 with an estimated completion date of late 2015 or early 2016;
• the new airport will have a runway of 1,550 m capable of handling B737/A319 size aircraft

• despite a dramatic drop in the number of attacks in 2014, the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean as a region of significant risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships accounting for 4% of all attacks in 2014;
• 11 vessels were attacked or hijacked in 2014 compared with 237 in 2011;
• the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, have reduced piracy incidents in that body of water;
• in response Somali-based pirates, using hijacked fishing trawlers as "mother ships" to extend their range, shifted operations as far south as the Mozambique Channel, eastward to the vicinity of the Maldives, and northeastward to the Strait of Hormuz

• the International Maritime Bureau reports that shipping in territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean remain at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, especially as Somali-based pirates extend their activities south;
• numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
• crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

• the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Bangladesh remain a risk for armed robbery against ships;
• attacks against vessels have decreased over the last few years in response to improved local security

nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located on Sint Maarten

nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located on Sint Maarten

• the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden are high risk for piracy;
• numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
• crew, passengers, and cargo are held for ransom;
• the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators reduced the incidence of piracy in that body of water by more than half in 2010

• Earhart Light, a day beacon near the middle of the west coast, was partially destroyed during World War II but rebuilt during the 1960s;
• today it is crumbling and in poor repair;
• named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART

there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Henderson Field on Sand Island serves as an emergency landing site for aircraft crossing the Pacific Ocean

there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from Wake Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency landing is available

• the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Caribbean Sea as a significant risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships;
• numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
• crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

• the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships;
• attacks have increased yearly since 2009;
• in 2012, 73 commercial vessels were boarded and 47 crew members taken hostage;
• hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia;
• crews have been murdered or cast adrift

• the International Maritime Bureau reports that the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea remain high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships;
• in the past, commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
• hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia;
• crews have been murdered or cast adrift;
• increased naval patrols since 2005 in the Strait of Malacca resulted in no reported incidents in 2010

• the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships;
• numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
• hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia;
• crews have been murdered or cast adrift

• the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships;
• numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
• hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia;
• crews have been murdered or cast adrift

• the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships;
• numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
• hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia;
• crews have been murdered or cast adrift

sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways

• Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways;
• significant domestic commercial and recreational use of Intracoastal Waterway on central and south Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico coast of US;
• the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore Atlantic waters as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa;
• in 2012, 58 commercial vessels were attacked in the Gulf of Guinea with 10 hijacked and 207 crew members taken hostage;
• hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen;
• crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

• although the number of reported incidents of piracy have dropped dramatically in 2012, the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Aden, along the east coast of Africa, the Bay of Bengal, and the Strait of Malacca;
• the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, have reduced incidents of piracy;
• in response, Somali-based pirates, using hijacked fishing trawlers as "mother ships" to extend their range, shifted operations as far south as the Mozambique Channel, eastward to the vicinity of the Maldives, and northeastward to the Strait of Hormuz

• the Inside Passage offers protected waters from southeast Alaska to Puget Sound (Washington state);
• the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships;
• numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
• hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen;
• crew and passengers are often held for ransom, murdered, or cast adrift

Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through the Panama Canal