Maritime Piracy in 2026 Fell to 1992 Levels Despite Somalia-Yemen Surge
The waters off the Horn of Africa are now the most dangerous for the merchant shipping industry owing to the resurgence of Somali piracy, a development that comes as global piracy and armed robbery incidents have plunged to their lowest levels in decades. In its quarterly report on violence against seafarers, the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) highlighted the renewed threat from Somali pirates while saying vigilance needs to be maintained in all areas of the globe,
The overall tone of the nine-month report from the IMB is that there have been major strides in the war against piracy and armed robberies. It points to declines in areas such as the Singapore Strait and a dramatic overall decline to levels last experienced in 1992, while also reporting that the threat of violence has increased.
IMB reports that cases of piracy and armed robberies against ships now stand at historical lows after only 51 incidents were reported in the first nine months of this year. This was a significant decline from the 116 incidents reported over the same period last year.
Despite the decline in incidents, threats of violence to seafarers remain a major concern. This emanates from the fact that 105 crewmembers were threatened or injured/killed in the first nine months of 2026, compared to 72 last year. Of the 105, 90 were taken hostage, six injured, five killed, three threatened, and one assaulted. Of more concern is that weapons were identified in 53 percent of the cases.
The data shows that 36 vessels were boarded, eight hijacked, and our vessels were fired upon, while attempted boardings were reported in three vessels. In 86 percent of incidents, perpetrators successfully gained access to the vessel while either at anchor or steaming, with most boarding incidents occurring at night. Notably, bulk carriers continue to be the main targets for pirates and armed robbers, with 20 vessels targeted followed by tankers (11), containerships (10), and others (10).
While piracy and armed robberies against merchant ships have declined in waters that have recently been dangerous, including the Singapore Straits and Gulf of Guinea, the Horn of Africa is again becoming the hotspot of piracy. Over the January to September period, eight hijacking cases were carried out by Somali pirates, who were also responsible for 94 percent of crew taken hostage worldwide. Cumulatively, IMB calculates a total of 15 ships came under attack by Somali pirates.
“While incident levels are at their lowest in more than three decades, the recent uptick in Somali piracy activity is a reminder that the threats remain,” said Michael Howlett, IMB Director. He added that incidents this year have also shown that strict adherence to BMP recommendations remains one of the most effective ways to deter hijacking attempts and protect crews.
IMB is highlighting that over the nine months, the Singapore Straits recorded the biggest decline in reported incidents, at only 13 compared to 73 in the same period last year. In over 69 percent of the cases, however, perpetrators were armed with guns or knives and managed to board all the targeted vessels. In the past, most of the incidents in the region have been lower-level robberies, and often the perpetrators were unarmed and fled when discovered.
Other traditional hotspots have also shown declines, with IMB commending littoral states in the Gulf of Guinea for their continued efforts. There were only two incidents reported in the Gulf of Guinea in the first nine months of 2026.
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There also continued to be low levels of reported incidents in other areas, including the Philippines, primarily in Manila and Batangas, as well as the Indonesian Archipelagic.
IMB continues to encourage all shipmasters and owners to report all piracy and armed robbery incidents. It also continues to urge vigilance and strict adherence to Best Management Practices.
