Piracy is not a relic of the past. According to the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB), piracy increased in 2025, and more than half of the acts of piracy and armed robbery reported worldwide were recorded in a single sea lane.
In 2025, global incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships increased, mainly due to developments in Southeast Asia. The IMB recorded 137 incidents worldwide, compared to 116 in 2024 and 120 in 2023, marking a reversal of the trend after two relatively stable years.
According to the IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre, this increase has not been uniform. More than two-thirds of the reported incidents occurred in South-East Asia, while activity in other regions remained comparatively limited. The report shows that it is this regional concentration, not a global widespread degradation, that characterizes the piracy landscape in 2025.
Of the 137 incidents reported last year:
- 121 ships were boarded,
- 10 attacks were attempted,
- 4 ships were hijacked,
- and 2 ships came under fire.
In 91% of cases, the perpetrators were successful in their attacks, continuing a trend observed in recent years.
The Singapore Strait tops the list of risk areas
The most striking trend in the 2025 data is the sharp rise in incidents in the Singapore Strait, which has emerged as the most affected place in the world. The IMB has recorded 80 incidents in the area, compared to 43 in 2024 and 37 in 2023. These cases alone accounted for more than 58 per cent of all piracy and armed robbery incidents worldwide.
While the IMB describes these attacks as low-intensity and opportunistic, the report highlights several important developments. Carrying weapons has risen sharply, with firearms reported in 27 incidents in the Singapore Strait in 2025, up from eight the previous year. The Strait has also recorded attacks on large commercial vessels, including 21 vessels over 100,000 dwt, among them two crude oil tankers in excess of 300,000 dwt, most of which have been successfully boarded.
The majority of these incidents occurred while the vessels were underway, reflecting the operational risks associated with heavy traffic and narrow sea lanes.
Africa: Violence persists despite fewer incidents
In the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, the IMB recorded 21 incidents in 2025, up slightly from 18 in 2024 and close to the 22 reported in 2023. While the total number of incidents remained contained, the region continued to be distinguished by the severity of violence against crews.
Selon le rapport, le golfe de Guinée a compté quatre incidents d’enlèvement impliquant 23 membres d’équipage en 2025. D’autres cas ont concerné des prises d’otages et des blessures, indiquant que, malgré une activité globale plus faible que les années précédentes, les risques liés aux équipages restent concentrés dans cette région.
Waters off Somalia show persistent capacity
The IMB recorded five incidents in the waters off Somalia in 2025, including three hijackings, one boarding and a ship coming under fire. A chemical tanker came under fire in November while en route about 330 nautical miles east-southeast of Mogadishu.
The report highlights that these incidents demonstrate the persistent ability of Somali pirates, including their ability to operate at considerable distances from the coast, despite ongoing naval patrols.
Crew safety and use of weapons
In all regions, violence against crews remains a prominent feature of piracy in 2025. The IMB reports:
- 46 crew members taken hostage (compared to 126 in 2024),
- 25 kidnappings during the year,
- 10 threats against crews,
- 4 cases of injuries,
- and 3 physical assaults.
In the Singapore Strait alone, there were 14 hostages, 8 threats, 3 cases of injury and 1 assault, underlining the human impact of the upsurge in incidents in this area.
The report also highlights a trend towards the intensification of the use of weapons:
- Firearms reported in 42 incidents worldwide in 2025 (compared to 26 in 2024 and 15 in 2023),
- edged weapons (knives, etc.) mentioned in 33 cases.
source : trans.info
