Copenhagen - Danish shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk said Friday that some of its slower vessels or ones that sail low in the water will stop using the Gulf of Aden over fears of piracy near the Somalian coast.

The company said the vessels would use alternate routes along the south of the Cape of Good Hope and east of Madagascar.

"The policy change will primarily impact our tanker vessels. Only three container vessels will be affected," board member Soren Skou said in statement.

AP Moller-Maersk said the piracy and recent hijackings posed a threat to international trade lanes and should be tackled by "relevant authorities and the international community."

Somali pirates have received 30 million dollars in ransom this year according to recent estimates presented by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. (dpa)