Piracy and armed robbery remain a real threat to ships' crews
The International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reports that ships and seafarers are continuing to face threats from pirates and armed robbers on the world's seas.
The IMB reports 47 attacks in the first three months of 2020, up from 38 in the same period last year. Pirates boarded 37 ships in the first quarter of 2020.
The world's piracy hotspot remains the Gulf of Guinea. Seventeen crew were kidnapped in three incidents in these waters, at distances of between 45 and 75 nautical miles from the coast.
On the brighter side, IMB's latest global piracy report shows zero hijackings in the last two quarters, and no incidents around Somalia, which had been the worst area for several years.
But with no sign of a reduction in attacks worldwide, IMB encourages shipowners to stay vigilant, calling for continued international cooperation.