West Africa remains the hottest piracy spot with 44 seafarers having been captured do far this year, a report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) claims.
New figures from IMB’s International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) show that violent attacks have worsened especially in the Gulf of Guinea.
Pottengal Mukundan, director of IMB, said: “Reports in the last quarter indicate unacceptable violence against ships and crews in the Gulf of Guinea, particularly around Nigeria.
“The current increase in kidnappings is a cause for great concern.”
On a worldwide basis, IMB recorded 37 piracy and armed robbery incidents between January and March.
No tanker attacks in SE Asia
It also noted that no small product tankers have been hijacked in southeast Asia so far.
But the area around the Philippines has been in the centre of attention due to three separate attacks by notorious Abu Sayyaf, which took 18 seafarers from tugs as hostages.
The most recent reported attack took place on Sunday, when shots were fired at the 8,900-dwt product carrier Fair Apollon (built 2009) off Yemen.
Following this attack, BIMCO has advised all members to take additional security measures and proceed with caution.
Special Anti Piracy Unit (SAPU), which had armed guards on the vessels, said the attack was more likely connected to terrorism than piracy.
