Piracy has fallen dramatically

The number of incidents of piracy and armed robberies reached its lowest level since 1992 in the first nine months of 2026. However, Somali piracy remains an ongoing risk to seafarers.

The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) reported 51 incidents for the period January–September 2026, down from 116 in the same period last year; this is the lowest number of reported incidents over a nine-month period since 1992.

IMB Director Michael Howlett: “Although the number of incidents is at its lowest level in more than three decades, the recent increase in Somali piracy activity reminds us that the threat persists. This year’s incidents have also demonstrated that strict adherence to best management practices (BMP) remains one of the most effective ways to deter hijacking attempts and protect crews. Continued vigilance is essential for the protection of seafarers and the vital trade routes on which the global economy depends.”

Access to vessels in 86 per cent of incidents

The report shows that 36 ships were boarded, eight were hijacked, four were fired upon and there were three attempted boardings. In 86 per cent of the incidents, the perpetrators managed to gain access to the vessel whilst it was at anchor or underway; most boardings took place at night.

The threat of violence against crew members remains a cause for concern: 105 crew members were directly affected, compared with 72 in the same period in 2025. Weapons were found in 53 per cent of the reported incidents in the first nine months of 2026.

Risks from Somali piracy are increasing

Although the total number of piracy incidents remains at a historically low level, the IMB recorded an increase in Somali piracy activity from January to September 2026: Somali pirates were responsible for eight ship hijackings and 94 per cent of all crew members taken hostage worldwide. Most of the hijacked ships have been released and the crews are reportedly safe.

The IMB notes that ships applying the latest Best Management Practices (BMPs) continue to successfully deter hijacking attempts, even in cases where pirates have managed to board a vessel.

However, the Puntland authorities reported at the end of September that five crew members had been killed and five injured prior to the release of the Palau-flagged product tanker Honour 25, which had been hijacked on 21 April 2026.

Although these incidents demonstrate that Somali pirates are still capable of attacking ships in the region, their scale and scope cannot be compared to the high-seas piracy operations that characterised the era of Somali piracy between 2008 and 2013.

Fewer incidents in the Gulf of Guinea and the Strait of Singapore

From January to September 2026, two incidents were reported in the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, whilst none occurred in the final quarter. The IMB commends the coastal states of the Gulf of Guinea for their ongoing efforts to ensure that the number of incidents of piracy and armed robberies remains at this low level.

There has also been a welcome decline in the number of reported incidents in the Strait of Singapore: thirteen in the first nine months of 2026, compared with 73 in the same period in 2025.

In 2026, two crew members were taken hostage in the Strait of Singapore, a further two were threatened and one person was injured. In more than 69 per cent of the incidents, the perpetrators were armed with firearms or knives and succeeded in boarding all the targeted vessels, highlighting the continuing risk to shipping in these waters.

The IMB commends the actions of the authorities, which have contributed to the decline in the number of reported incidents in the Strait of Singapore.

Fewer incidents in Indonesia, more around the Philippines

The number of reported incidents in the Indonesian archipelago continues to fall. In the first nine months of 2026, six incidents were reported, compared with nine in the same period in 2025. Weapons were reported in one incident, in which one crew member was also taken hostage.

In the Philippines, nine ships at anchor were boarded, with six incidents reported in Manila and three in Batangas, compared with no reported incidents in 2025. During the incidents, two crew members were taken hostage, whilst weapons were reported in five cases.

Source: Mariska Buitendijk in SWZ-Maritime.
Image: IMB

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