If they negotiate first, they ask why not kill the guy sooner?

Most of the incidents involve pirates robbing the crew and stealing stores from ships, unlike in the waters off Somalia where ships and their crews are often held for ransom.

Police are said to be negotiating with the man.

Press photos of Chinese mariners squatting at gunpoint on their hijacked trawler provided an incentive that was hard to resist.

Mendoza used a hostage as a human shield to protect himself, before being killed.