The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has revealed a rise in piracy and armed robbery incidents in the first quarter of 2025 – driven by a spike of incidents in the Singapore Straits. 45 cases were recorded in the first three months of 2025 – an almost 35 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Of the incidents reported, 37 vessels were boarded, four were hijacked and four had attempted attacks. The threat to crew safety remains high with 37 crew members taken hostage, thirteen kidnapped, two threatened and one injured.
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Rise of incidents in Singapore Straits
The Q1 report highlights a spike in recorded incidents in the Singapore Straits as 27 incidents were reported from vessels transiting these waters compared to seven for the same period in 2024. While most incidents were considered low-level opportunistic crimes, crew members were at great risk with guns reported in fourteen incidents. For the whole of 2024, guns were reported in 26 incidents globally.
Ten crew members were taken hostage in six separate incidents, two were threatened and one was reported injured. 92 per cent of all vessels targeted in the Singapore Straits were successfully boarded, including nine bulk carriers and tankers over 100,000 deadweight tonnage in size.
IMB Director Michael Howlett: ‘The reported rise of incidents in the Singapore Straits is concerning, highlighting the urgent need to protect the safety of seafarers navigating these waters. Ensuring the security of these vital routes is essential and all necessary measures must be taken to safeguard crew members.’
Also read: Shipping organisations concerned about seafarer safety
Caution advised in the Gulf of Guinea
Although the number of reported incidents within the Gulf of Guinea waters and adjoining littoral states continues to be at its lowest in nearly two decades, the IMB urges continued caution as crew members remain at risk.
All thirteen kidnapped crew were reported in these waters in two separate attacks – with a total of six incidents reported in the first quarter of the year. In March, pirates hijacked a bitumen tanker southeast of Santo Antonio, in Sao Tome and Principe, kidnapping ten crew members – while a fishing vessel south of Accra, Ghana, was boarded by armed pirates who kidnapped three crew members.
‘While we welcome the reduction of incidents, the safety of crew members in the Gulf of Guinea remains at greater risk,’ says Howlett. ‘It is essential to maintain a strong regional and international naval presence to address these incidents and ensure the protection of seafarers.’
Also read: Fewer piracy incidents in 2024, but crew still at risk
Somali piracy threat remains
Between 7 February and 16 March 2025, two fishing vessels and a dhow were hijacked off the coast of Somalia. In these incidents, 26 crew members were taken hostage, demonstrating the continued capabilities of Somali pirates. Reports indicate all crew have been released along with the vessels.
The IMB advises ships navigating these waters to exercise caution and to strictly follow the latest version of the Industry Best Management Practice (BMP). 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.
Picture by ICC IMB.
Also read: IMB: Piracy incidents lowest since 1994, threats remain
