Piracy and kidnap methods in the Gulf of Guinea have become more sophisticated and prevalent, the UK P&I Club says.
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has recorded 32 kidnaps for ransom in 2016 so far, compared to 19 in 2015.
Improved naval patrolling has made cargo theft more difficult and has moved criminal activity towards crew abduction, the Club explains.
Stuart Edmonston, head of loss prevention at UK P&I Club, said: “There are indications that some kidnappers have such belief in their business model that they are increasing their logistical capacity to take in and hold more hostages, possibly for longer than is now normally the case.
“There are also signs that the understanding of the ‘kidnap market’ is evolving – in other words, they may be able to target their attacks with greater precision and demand higher ransoms.”
The club said the kidnap threat in the Gulf of Guinea is unlikely to disappear in the near future.
