We have received the 2025 January - June piracy and armed robbery report from the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) together with the summary below. For more details, please refer to the attached files.

Summary

Ninety incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) in the first half of 2025 compared to 60 and 65 in the same periods of 2024 and 2023 respectively. This marks the highest number of reported incidents since H1 2020, when 98 incidents were recorded.

Seventy-nine vessels were boarded, six attempted attacks, four hijackings and one vessel fired upon. Perpetrators successfully boarded 92% of vessels targeted globally.

Violence towards crew continues with 40 crew been taken hostage compared to 85 in H1 2024 and 36 in H1 2023. A further 16 crew were kidnapped compared to 11 and 14 in the same period over the past two years. Crew continue to be at risk with five being threatened and a further three each assaulted and injured.

Guns and knives were reported in 55 percent of the reported incidents compared to 57 and 40 percent in the same period over the past two years.

The spike in overall numbers is attributed also entirely to increased incidents in the Singapore Straits accounting for 57 of the 90 H1 reports.

The majority of the successful incidents were reported while vessels were steaming.

Regions where incidents reported.

Singapore Straits

The number of incidents in the Singapore Straits has already surpassed the annual 2024 incidents by over 30 percent, with vessels successfully boarded in 95% of the H1 reports. Compared to H1 2024, 15 incidents were reported in these waters. Of the 57 reported incidents, 14 bulk carriers and tankers, over 150,000 DWT were targeted with 13 being successfully boarded. In 35 incidents guns / knives were reported, compared to 10 and eight in the same period over the past two years. There has been a rise in violence against the crew, with 13 being held hostage for the duration of the incident, five being threatened, three injured and one being assaulted. Although viewed as relatively low-level incidents, this exponential year on year rise is concerning.

Gulf of Guinea

Incidents in the Gulf of Guinea continue to remain at low levels with Regional Authorities commended for their efforts and encouraged to sustain them. Twelve incidents were reported in H1 2025, compared to 10 and 14 in the same period over the past two years. While this trend is worth aspiring to, crew safety and wellbeing are not yet guaranteed. The region accounts for 87 percent of the number of crew kidnapped globally in H1 2025. The IMB continues to encourage all seafarers to exercise caution while in these waters and continues to follow the recommended practices in the latest editions of the industry led BMP.  

Somalia

Since April 2025, no new incidents have been reported off Somalia. There remains a continued threat of potential piratical incidents in these waters requiring all mariners to adhere to the latest guidelines in the industry led BMP. Particularly as the SW Monsoon subsides over the coming months.