Maritime crime drops but threat persists
Maritime kidnappings now represent the biggest threat to seafarers after the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported that incidents of piracy dropped to their lowest rate for nearly 20 years in 2016.
While piracy and armed robbery is on the decline with 191 incidents reported, more crew were kidnapped at sea last year than at any time during the past ten years. Figures showed a threefold increase on the previous year.
A total of 62 crew were kidnapped for ransom in 15 incidents with half of those taking place off West Africa, while 28 were kidnapped from tugs, barges, fishing boats
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