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The United States called on Wednesday for intensified efforts to combat piracy and warned against paying ransom to free ships and crew members.

US deputy ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo expressed concern that ransom payments have contributed to the recent increase in piracy.

The United States is encouraging all countries to adopt a policy of "no concessions" when dealing with "hostage-takers, including pirates," she said.

DiCarlo spoke at an open meeting of the UN Security Council Wednesday on the fight against piracy.

The previously scheduled meeting coincided with Wednesday''s second attack by Somali pirates in seven months against the US-flagged ship the Maersk Alabama, which was thwarted by private guards onboard.

On Tuesday a payment was made of a 3.3 (m) million dollar ransom to Somali pirates to free a Spanish trawler and its 36 crew members.

According to a report by Ban, stepped up international action to tackle ship seizures off the Somali coast is forcing pirates into the Indian Ocean and more recently closer to the Seychelles - but the number of attacks is still increasing.

During 2008, the International Maritime Organisation reported 306 incidents of piracy and armed robbery worldwide, 136 of them in East Africa.

In the first nine months of 2009, 300 incidents were reported, including 160 in the East Africa area, the report said.

"The United States believes that the international community must continue and intensify efforts to combat piracy," DiCarlo said.

She said it is "essential" that the council renews authorisation for countries to enter Somalia''s territorial waters, with advance notice, and use "all necessary means" to stop acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea – and to authorise nations to conduct land and air attacks on pirate bases on the coast of the Horn of Africa country.

The council is expected to consider new resolutions before these authorisations expire next month.

DiCarlo said the international community must continue focusing on bringing peace, political stability and economic development to Somalia because "piracy is closely linked to instability, weak governance and the rule of law, and the lack of opportunity on land."

The United States is also calling for stepped up sharing of information and best practices to combat piracy, she said.

Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, the top UN envoy for Somalia, said paying ransom to free ships and crew - as Spain is believed to have done - only provides "new resources, new capital for activities" of the pirates.