The center's data shows 98 attacks through the end of June, down from 134 in the same period last year. Annualized, these numbers are well below the values recorded in 2003 and 2010, the most recent peak years.
The attacks in the first half included 72 boardings, five hijackings and 12 attempts, with nine ships fired on and 64 crew members taken hostage.
Pottengal Mukundan, the center's director, said that the news was encouraging, but ships need to remain vigilant in high-risk areas like the Gulf of Guinea and waters near Somalia.
