IMB: Piracy incidents rise sharply in Singapore Strait in 2025

Reports of maritime piracy and armed robbery increased during the first nine months of 2025, driven largely by a sharp rise in incidents in the Singapore Strait, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) of the International Chamber of Commerce.

The IMB said 116 incidents were reported globally between January and September 2025, up from 79 during the same period in 2024. While the overall number of incidents worldwide remains lower than in previous decades, the figure represents the highest total for the first nine months of a year since 2021.

The Singapore Strait recorded 73 incidents during the period, marking the highest level of reported activity in the waterway since 1991. By comparison, only 28 incidents were reported there in the first nine months of 2024.

According to the IMB report, 102 vessels were boarded, nine experienced attempted boardings, four were hijacked and one came under fire. In 91% of cases, attackers successfully boarded the vessel, with most incidents occurring at night.

The IMB said violence against crew members remains a concern. Weapons were reported in 55% of incidents, while firearms were visible in 33% of cases — the highest proportion since 2017. During the reporting period, 43 crew members were taken hostage, 16 were kidnapped, seven were threatened, three were assaulted and three were injured.

Cyrus Modi, Deputy Director of the IMB, said the increase in incidents in the Singapore Strait in 2025 was particularly steep compared with recent years. He warned that such attacks could also lead to secondary risks, including collisions or groundings, if ship officers are distracted during an incident.

Modi noted, however, that pirates operating in the Singapore Strait generally do not intend to harm crew members, as they typically focus on looting and flee once alarms are raised. He said this distinguishes them from attackers in regions such as the Gulf of Guinea and off the coast of Somalia, where crews are more frequently targeted.

By Sabina Mammadli