Piracy on the high seas has become a modern-day problem for the global maritime industry. According to the International Maritime Bureau of the International Chamber of Commerce, some 15 vessels and more than 250 crew members of various nationalities, and another 49 crew on land, are being held by armed sea bandits. Hundreds more ships have been attacked, with untold millions paid out in ransom. As a major seafaring centre, Hong Kong had 27 ships attacked by pirates in 2011.