During the first nine months of 2025, incidents of piracy and armed robbery against commercial vessels rose by 46.8% compared with the same period last year, driven by a record surge in attacks in the waters of the Singapore Strait, according to the latest report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
From January to September, 116 incidents were reported, up from 79 in the same period in 2024— the highest figure since 2021. Of these, 102 ships were boarded, four were hijacked, one came under gunfire, and in nine additional cases attackers attempted to board. The report also notes a rise in the use of weapons: arms were identified in more than half of all cases (55%), and in 33% of the attacks the assailants carried firearms—the highest share since 2017. Over this period, 43 crew members were held hostage, 16 were kidnapped, seven were threatened, and six were injured or assaulted.
Regionally, the Singapore Strait remains the most troubling hotspot, with 73 incidents reported—the highest number since 1991. Even so, the report points to a decline in attacks following the Indonesian Maritime Police’s arrest in July of two groups linked to multiple boardings. The IMB praised the work of the authorities and urges vessels transiting the area to keep reporting any suspicious activity.
In the Gulf of Guinea, the downward trend continues, with 15 incidents in the first nine months of the year compared with 12 during the same period in 2024. Although the numbers remain relatively contained, crew safety is still a concern: 14 seafarers were abducted in these waters between January and September. No kidnappings were logged in the third quarter, but the IMB warns that criminal groups retain the ability to strike ships far offshore.
In Somali waters and the Gulf of Aden, no incidents were recorded in the third quarter—likely due to monsoon conditions. However, the IMB notes that during the first half of the year, 26 crew members were taken hostage in three attacks on fishing vessels and dhows, and stresses that vigilance must be maintained.
IMB Director Michael Howlett emphasized that regional cooperation has been vital in containing global incident levels and improving the safety of crews and vessels. “This is a pivotal moment to step up surveillance. There is no room for complacency, and it is essential that shipowners and officers follow Best Management Practices to the letter,” Howlett warned.