On 14 January 2025, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported declining global maritime incidents and piracy in 2024. Still, it urged continued caution as crew safety remains at risk.
The IMB annual Piracy and Armed Robbery Report recorded 116 incidents against ships in 2024 compared to 120 in 2023 and 115 in 2022. It reveals that 94 vessels were boarded, 13 attempted attacks, six vessels were hijacked, and three were fired upon.
While the number of reported incidents in 2024 remains similar to those reported in 2023 and 2022, IMB urges caution to promote crew safety given an increase in the number of crew taken hostage or kidnapped – from 126 taken hostage in 2024 compared to 73 in 2023 and 41 in 2022. Twelve crew were reported kidnapped, compared to 14 in 2023 and two in 2022. A further 12 crew were threatened and one injured in 2024.
The reported use of weapons also continues to rise. In 2024, guns were reported in 26 incidents compared to 15 in 2023. Knives were reported in 39 incidents in 2024, compared to 42 in 2023.
ICC Secretary General said, “While we welcome the reduction of reported incidents, the ongoing threats to crew safety remain a significant concern. Safeguarding routes and ensuring seafarers’ security are essential to maintaining global commerce. Every effort must be made to protect lives at sea while ensuring the seamless flow of goods through international supply chains. This requires a collaborative effort, with continued regional and international naval presence crucial to this endeavour.”
Crew Safety at Risk in the Gulf of Guinea
Activity remains relatively lower in the Gulf of Guinea, with 18 incidents reported in 2024, compared to 22 in 2023, 19 in 2022, 35 in 2021 and 81 in 2020. However, crew members continue to be at risk, with the region accounting for all 12 kidnapped crew and 23% of the total number of crew taken hostage in 2024.
In East Africa, at least eight incidents were reported, including the hijacking of two fishing vessels and a bulk carrier in the first half of 2024. IMB encourages vigilance and adherence to the latest Best Management Practices recommendations.
A rise in weapons and incidents in Southeast Asian waters
Incidents in the Singapore Straits continue to rise, with 43 in 2024 compared to 37 in 2023 and 38 in 2022. The 2024 IMB Piracy and Armed Robbery report reveals that 93% of the vessels targeted were boarded, and 11 large vessels with over 100 000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) were targeted in this strategically important seaway.
Harm to the crew continued, with 13 taken hostage, five threatened, and one injured during the incidents. While considered low-level opportunistic crimes, the use of guns and knives increased to eight and 19 in 2024, respectively, compared to three and 15 in 2023. Most incidents were reported during darkness and while vessels were underway.
The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) has also expressed concern about late reports and underreporting by vessels being boarded in these waters.
A year-on-year increase in reported incidents has been observed in the Indonesian archipelago, from 10 in 2022 to 18 in 2023 to 22 in 2024. While 20 incidents remain under the definition of armed robbery, two fall under the definition of piracy.
In these two incidents, crew members were taken hostage for the duration of the incidents. Overall, 31 crew were taken hostage, and one threatened. Knives were reported in 10 incidents and guns in three.
The highest incidents in a decade were reported at anchorages in Bangladesh. IMB recorded 14 incidents in 2024, of which 13 were onboard ships anchored at Chattogram and one at Mongla anchorage. Two crew were taken hostage, and a further three threatened. Knives were reported in seven incidents.
Download the "2024 Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships Report” at:
https://icc-ccs.org/request-piracy-report/
About the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre
Since its founding in 1991, IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre has served as a crucial, 24-hour point of contact to report crimes of piracy and lend support to ships under threat. Quick reactions and a focus on coordinating with response agencies, as well as sending out warning broadcasts and email alerts to ships, have all helped bolster security on the high seas. The data gathered by the Centre also provides key insights into the nature and state of modern piracy.
IMB encourages all shipmasters and owners to report all actual, attempted and suspected global piracy and armed robbery incidents to the Piracy Reporting Centre as a vital first step to ensuring adequate resources are allocated by authorities to tackle maritime piracy.