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IMB recorded 137 piracy incidents in 2025
International Maritime Bureau (IBM) data showed 137 piracy and armed robbery incidents in 2025 and 88 seafarers affected
The International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) recorded 137 piracy and armed robbery incidents against ships in 2025, up from 116 in 2024 and 120 in 2023. The principal operational signal was crew exposure: IMB reported 88 seafarers affected through hostage-taking, kidnapping, threats, injury or assault.
IMB said most reported cases were classified as low-level, but it also reported sustained violence against seafarers. The 2025 figures comprised 121 boardings, 10 attempted attacks, four hijackings and two incidents where vessels were fired upon. Violence against crew included 46 seafarers taken hostage and 25 kidnapped, with a further 10 threatened, four injured and three assaulted.
“Disproportionate increase in the carriage of guns”
IMB also reported that guns were cited in 42 incidents in 2025, up from 26 in 2024, while knives were reported in 33 incidents, down from 39 in 2024. In parallel, IMB said perpetrators successfully boarded vessels in 91% of cases in 2025. For ship operators and crewing managers, that combination of high boarding success and reported weapon carriage pointed to a watchkeeping problem as much as a loss-prevention issue: the risk materialised once intruders gained access, regardless of whether the incident later appeared “low level” in theft terms.
Singapore Straits: incident concentration and crew harm
The Singapore Straits recorded 80 incidents in 2025, compared with 43 in 2024, accounting for 58% of globally reported incidents in 2025, according to IMB. IMB described the incidents as “low level and opportunistic”, but it also reported a “disproportionate increase in the carriage of guns”, with 27 gun reports in 2025 compared with eight in 2024. IMB said 14 crew were taken hostage, eight were threatened, three were injured and one was assaulted in incidents reported in the Singapore Straits.
“Timely reporting is key to preventing further incidents and protecting other vessels in the area”
IMB also said 21 vessels over 100,000 dwt were targeted in the Singapore Straits in 2025, including two crude oil tankers over 300,000 dwt, with 19 of the 21 successfully boarded. Onboard, the practical implication for crews was that intrusion risk persisted while vessels were underway, requiring detection, alarm-raising and safe-mustering routines that worked at short notice during normal bridge and engine room operations.
IMB reported a “significant decline” in incidents in the Singapore Straits in the last half of 2025 after the Indonesian Marine Police apprehended two gangs in July 2025.
Gulf of Guinea: restricted activity, but kidnappings persisted
West Africa showcased a different kind of crew-risk environment. The IMB said 21 incidents were reported in the Gulf of Guinea in 2025, compared with 18 in 2024 and 22 in 2023, and it credited regional efforts with restricting reported activity. It also said efforts required further co-ordination and strengthening “to reduce violence against crew members”, noting that the region accounted for the kidnapping of 23 crew in four separate incidents, along with three hostages and one injured crew member.
IMB director Michael Howlett praised enforcement gains while underlining that crew impacts persisted: “We also commend the Gulf of Guinea authorities for the steps taken to reduce reported incidents, while recognising that crew members continue to be affected,” he said. He added: “Sustained and strengthened cooperation between regional authorities, navies, international partners, and industry remains essential to protect seafarers and safeguard trade.”
Somalia: limited numbers, continued capability at range
IMB said piracy off the Somali coast remained contained by naval presence, but incidents in November took place far from shore, indicating that groups retained the ability to operate at range. IMB’s report described a chemical tanker fired upon while underway 330 nautical miles east-south-east of Mogadishu on 3 November 2025 and a product tanker boarded around 560 nautical miles north-east of Eyl on 6 November 2025, where the crew retreated to the citadel and coalition forces responded. IMB said well-prepared crews and swift naval responses ensured vessel and crew safety in both cases and urged adherence to the latest best management practices when transiting the area.
ICC secretary general John W.H. Denton said: “The rise in reported maritime incidents highlights the importance of protecting seafarers and securing key shipping routes not only for crew safety, but for the stability of global supply chains and the economies that depend on them.”
Reporting discipline: why IMB emphasised speed of notification
IMB expressed concern about late reporting and urged masters to report incidents immediately, stating that timely reporting enabled rapid dissemination of safety information, supported preventive action and contributed directly to the safety of other vessels in the vicinity. Mr Howlett said: “Timely reporting is key to preventing further incidents and protecting other vessels in the area.”
IMB’s report said the Piracy Reporting Centre received, responded to and actioned over 1,898 emails and calls on its maritime security hotline in 2025 and participated in 101 emergency vessel drills, providing information and advice to masters and operators on voyage risk planning.
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