The commander of the European Union’s anti-piracy operation has warned merchant shipping that a significant number of attacks might take place in the Gulf of Aden in September in spite of increased surveillance operations by national navies off Somalia.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Peter Hudson, the senior British officer commanding the EU anti-piracy mission, said the current monsoon season – with waves rising up to 4m – had led to a drop in the seizing of merchant ships in the region.