West Africa remains the hottest piracy spot with 44 seafarers having been captured do far this year, a report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) claims.

New figures from IMB’s International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) show that violent attacks have worsened especially in the Gulf of Guinea.

Pottengal Mukundan, director of IMB, said: “Reports in the last quarter indicate unacceptable violence against ships and crews in the Gulf of Guinea, particularly around Nigeria.

“The