MARITIME security company, MAST Ltd, has warned that underestimating the security risk in the Indian Ocean could put ships in great danger once again, adding the seas off the sub-continent still present a series of security challenges.

"While reports seem to be pointing to the Far East as the next piracy hotspot, the real security risk to shipping remains within the Indian Ocean," said MAST chief operations officer Gerry Northwood.

"It is clear that the level of maritime crime in the Far East is high, however in most cases it is simply petty theft and should be deterred if passive protection measures such as Best Management Practices 4 (BMP4) are in place.

"The situation in Somalia is far more complicated. Piracy in the region has been effectively suppressed, but not completely eradicated and pirates could strike again if shipping companies relax their guard," said Mr Northwood.

The security challenges in the Indian Ocean include a lack of intelligence sharing between countries carrying out counter-piracy operations," said Mr Northwood.

He added that if these challenges were overcome, it would help increase the situational awareness and understanding of the region, enhancing the world's navies?ability to conduct anti-piracy operations.

After two decades of civil war, Somalia remains a lawless and politically fragmented country. The persistent attacks by Al Qaeda-affiliated group, Al Shabaab, against police and government authorities have complicated the rebuilding process of a fragile state, creating conditions for piracy to flourish.

"Armed security teams, BMP4 and military patrols have been, and still are, an effective deterrent in the region, protecting vessels from attack by Somali pirates. However, the recent Al Shabaab bomb attacks in Mogadishu highlight the fragility of the security situation in the Indian Ocean," he said.

"The lack of law and order ashore in Somalia means that the pirate breeding grounds are still intact. If the shipping industry becomes complacent, it will only be a matter of time before a ship is hijacked again by Somali pirates, and innocent crews lives put at risk."