The number of acts of piracy at sea continues to increase. The closing of 2025 confirms the signs reported in previous months, with a particular incidence in the Singapore Strait, where the highest number of reported incidents was recorded. The data comes from the annual report of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the supervisory body of the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce), which reported, at a global level, an increase in piracy and armed robberies at sea in 2025, even if it classified the majority of cases as “low level”.
Last year, the IMB therefore notes, there were 137 incidents against ships, compared to 116 in 2024 and 120 in 2023. And 80 acts of piracy occurred in the Singapore Strait, compared to 43 in 2024; almost a doubling, in short. These incidents accounted for more than half (58%) of incidents reported globally over the past year.
Violence against crews continues
More specifically, the report highlights that, again on a global scale, 121 boats were boarded, four were hijacked and fire was opened on two; to this are added 10 attack attempts. Although most of the incidents reported during the past year were classified, as mentioned, of low level, the violence against crews has not stopped. There are 46 men taken hostage in 2025, compared to 126 in 2024 and 73 in 2023. Furthermore, 25 crew members were kidnapped, compared to 12 in 2024 and 14 in 2023. Another 10 were threatened, four injured and three attacked, in 2025.
One not particularly encouraging sign is that the use of firearms continues to increase. Last year, 42 incidents involving the use of that type of weapon were reported, compared to 26 in 2024. The use of knives, however, was reported in 33 incidents in 2025, compared to 39 in 2024.
In Somalia attacks far from the coast
Looking at piracy hotspots around the world, the IMB highlights that, for Somalia, although only a limited number of attacks have been reported off its coast in 2025, two attacks occurred far from shore in November, demonstrating that Somali pirate groups still have the ability to operate remotely. In both cases, the report says, “well-prepared crews, together with the rapid response of naval forces, ensured the safety of ships and crews.”
