The bureau's piracy reporting centre recorded 191 incidents of piracy and armed robbery on the world's seas in 2016, down from 246 reported incidents in 2015. Throughout 2016, 150 vessels were boarded, 12 were fired upon, seven were hijacked, and 22 attacks were thwarted. The number of hostages fell to 151.
In 2016 pirates kidnapped 62 people for ransom in 15 separate incidents. "Just over half were captured off West Africa, while 28 were kidnapped from tugs, barges, fishing boats, and more recently merchant ships, around Malaysia and Indonesia," the IMB said.
In addition to West Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Sulu Sea, other piracy hot spots include the Gulf of Guinea off Nigeria, Somalia, the Port of Callao in Peru, Vung Tau in Vietnam, and Bangladesh.
In the Gulf of Guinea, 34 crew were kidnapped during nine separate incidents, while piracy incidents rose from 14 in 2015 to 36 in 2016. However, there were just two incidents off Somalia last year. In May, pirates attempted to attack a containership in the Gulf of Aden, and in October, pirates fired on a tanker in the Somali basin 300 nautical miles from shore.
Peru reported 11 incidents compared to zero in 2015, reported American Shipper. Ten of the 11 incidents were reported at the Port of Callao. Vung Tau saw seven incidents last year, down from 15 in 2015, while Bangladesh experienced thee incidents compared to 11 in 2015.
In 2016 pirates kidnapped 62 people for ransom in 15 separate incidents. "Just over half were captured off West Africa, while 28 were kidnapped from tugs, barges, fishing boats, and more recently merchant ships, around Malaysia and Indonesia," the IMB said.
In addition to West Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Sulu Sea, other piracy hot spots include the Gulf of Guinea off Nigeria, Somalia, the Port of Callao in Peru, Vung Tau in Vietnam, and Bangladesh.
In the Gulf of Guinea, 34 crew were kidnapped during nine separate incidents, while piracy incidents rose from 14 in 2015 to 36 in 2016. However, there were just two incidents off Somalia last year. In May, pirates attempted to attack a containership in the Gulf of Aden, and in October, pirates fired on a tanker in the Somali basin 300 nautical miles from shore.
Peru reported 11 incidents compared to zero in 2015, reported American Shipper. Ten of the 11 incidents were reported at the Port of Callao. Vung Tau saw seven incidents last year, down from 15 in 2015, while Bangladesh experienced thee incidents compared to 11 in 2015.