The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reports a 50% increase in piracy and armed robberies against ships in the first half of 2025, with 90 incidents recorded compared to 60 in the same period last year. This surge is particularly alarming in the Singapore Strait, a vital shipping route that handles nearly a third of global trade. The current incident rate is the highest for the first half of a year since 2020, with 90% of vessels successfully boarded while underway.
Notably, the Singapore Strait accounted for 57 of the reported incidents, a significant rise from 15 in early 2024. The IMB highlights the dangerous trend of large vessels being boarded, noting a 95% success rate in these incidents. While many incidents are relatively low-level, the use of weapons in 34 cases raises serious safety concerns for crew members, with 40 taken hostage and several others threatened or injured.
In Asia, the ReCAAP has recorded a total of 107 incidents in 2025, with 11 occurring in just one week in the Singapore Strait. Despite a lower number of overall incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, it remains a hotspot for crew kidnappings, accounting for 87% of such cases. The IMB urges seafarers to remain vigilant, especially as risks could increase with the end of the monsoon season.
