The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has revealed a slight increase in reported incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery in the first nine months of this year, with the highest recorded number in the Singapore Straits since 1991.
IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre reported 116 incidents for the period January-September 2025, up from 79 in the same period last year, the highest reported nine-month figures since 2021.
The report reveals that 102 vessels were boarded, nine faced attempted boardings, four were hijacked and one was fired upon.
In 91% of incidents, perpetrators successfully gained access to the vessel, with most boarding incidents occurring at night.
The threat of violence against crew remains a concern, with weapons identified in 55% of reported incidents in the first nine months of this year. Guns were visibly carried in 33% of cases – the highest level since 2017. During this period, 43 crew members were taken hostage, 16 kidnapped, seven threatened, three assaulted and three injured.
“We urge the continued use of collaborative frameworks and commend the efforts undertaken by regional authorities that have contained incident levels and enhanced security of crews and vessels globally,” said IMB Director, Michael Howlett.
Fifteen incidents were reported in the Gulf of Guinea region, compared with 12 in the same period of 2024. Of these, 10 occurred in territorial waters, under the definition of armed robbery and the remaining five under the definition of piracy.
While incident numbers remain curbed, crew safety remains a concern. Fourteen crew were kidnapped in these waters from January to September 2025. Despite zero crew kidnappings in the third quarter, perpetrators continue to demonstrate the capability to target vessels out at sea.
In late August, a product tanker was boarded 46 nautical miles from Ghana. Its 13 crew were safe but this and other reports underscored the need to continue adhering to the latest versions of the industry’s Best Management Practices, the IMB said.
Seventy-three incidents were reported in the Singapore Straits between January and September 2025 – the highest number recorded since 1991.
Despite this overall rise, there has been a marked reduction in incidents following the arrest of two gangs in July by the Indonesian Marine Police. IMB commended the actions of authorities and encouraged all ships to report incidents while in these waters.
IMB noted that no incidents had been reported in the waters off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden in the third quarter, likely due to the prevailing southwest monsoon conditions.
However, the bureau advised vessels to continue to adhere to guidelines as 26 crew were taken hostage from two fishing vessels in the first six months of 2025.
“This is an important time to reinforce the need for vigilance,” Howlett said.
“There can be no room for complacency, and globally, vessel owners and operators are encouraged to follow industry guidelines and report incidents promptly.”
