Pirates Strike Indonesia's Main Port

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported that one crew member was taken hostage during one of the attacks. As a result, the IMB has issued a special warning to all ships in the area. There have been 13 attacks on commercial ships near Balikpapan over the last six weeks.

Security experts say that there is a link between the attacks and terrorists, but the IMB says there is no evidence of it. All agree that the new aggressive attacks on an oil tanker, port, and waterways could have severe consequences, particularly for the energy markets.

Last week, 16 Asian nations gathered in Tokyo to endorse a proposal to set up an anti-piracy center in Singapore to share information pertaining to the menace of piracy in the region.