UK’s maritime intelligence and operations company Dryad Maritime has released its analysis of worldwide reported incidents of piracy and crime against mariners for 2015.

Southeast Asia saw a 10% rise in maritime crime from 2014, continuing year on year trends. A large portion of the incidents reported have occurred in the Caribbean, Central and South America, but there has been an unusual recurrence of reports coming from the Tianjin area of China.

The Mediterranean has become the area of most concern, due to the continued civil war in Libya and the expansion of the Islamic State terrorist organisation both there and in the Sinai.

“Looking ahead at 2016, thieves will almost certainly continue to board and rob vessels on an opportunistic basis throughout West Africa, and make the most of dark, moonless nights and lax on board security. It is possible that hijack for cargo theft will again increase as the country adjusts to the lower price of fuel, but these will most likely be in small numbers, as seen in 2015,” Dryad reports.

Dryad also anticipates a continuation of the level of kidnap off Nigeria.

The following infographic provides information on maritime piracy and crime around the world that shipping companies and mariners face.

World Maritime News Staff, Infographic: Dryad Maritime