India's government has moved to ban Indian seafarers from the Gulf of Guinea, citing concerns over piracy.

A circular published by the country's Directorate General of Shipping says pirates have been targeting Indian crew and directs state-approved crewing companies not to hire Indians to work on ships trading solely in the Gulf of Guinea.

"Piracy/armed robbery attacks in the Gulf of Guinea are becoming more violent with a greater tendency to attack, hijack and rob vessels as well as kidnap crew, in the waters of Gulf of Guinea," Capt.