On Friday last week, 16 pirates in two skiffs armed with AK47s and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) fired on an unnamed cable-layer in the Red Sea.

The ship was protected by an armed security team who returned fire, while the crew took shelter in the citadel. The pirates eventually gave up on the hijacking attempt.

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) says there has not been an attack of this kind in a long time.