Violence against seafarers is increasing despite an overall drop in maritime piracy in the first half of the year, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) says.
It said 85 crew members were taken hostage, compared with 36 in the same period in 2023. A further 11 were kidnapped and two were threatened.
The group said the rise underscored the need for continued focus by the international community on protecting seafarers.
The rise in hostage situations comes despite an overall fall of piracy cases to 60 from 65 in the first half.
Guns and knives were reported in 34 of the 60 incidents, an increase from last year.
IMB director Michael Howlett said: “While the decline in reported incidents is welcome, sustained and continued regional maritime cooperation remains essential to safeguard seafarers, global shipping and trade.
“There is no room for complacency.”
The IMB reported eight incidents of Somali piracy in the first six months, including three hijackings. Vessels were targeted up to 1,000 nautical miles (1,850 km) from the Somali coast.
Fifty of the 85 hostage cases were reported in Somalia and 21 off Cape Verde in West Africa, the figures showed.
Piracy cases rose in the Indonesian archipelago and Bangladesh, primarily against vessels at ports and anchorages.
The Indonesian cases included five in which attackers were armed with knives and once with guns.
Attacks on shipping in Asia’s most important strategic waterway were almost halved in the first six months of 2024, according to data last week from the Singapore-based Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy & Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).
Twenty-one incidents were reported in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore between January and June, a 49% decline.
Despite the improvement, the straits remain one of the world’s primary piracy hot spots. Large vessels being targeted, particularly bulk carriers, said insurer Skuld.
Although many incidents were characterised as low-level opportunistic thefts, there was a “troubling prevalence” of raiders armed with knives.
“While the overall number of reported piracy and armed robbery incidents decreased slightly compared to the same period in 2023, there has been a concerning rise in violence against crew members,” said Skuld.
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