The IMB piracy report for January–September 2026 recorded 51 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships, the lowest nine-month total since 1992. However, the incidents had a direct impact on 105 seafarers, against 72 a year earlier.
The ICC International Maritime Bureau released the findings on 15 October 2026. Its Piracy Reporting Centre had received 116 incident reports between January and September 2025.
Somali pirates carried out all eight recorded hijackings and accounted for 94% of crew hostages in IMB’s worldwide tally for the nine months. IMB said most seized vessels had subsequently been freed and reports indicated their crews were safe.
The bureau also cited a late-September statement by Puntland authorities concerning Honour 25. According to that statement, five seafarers died and another five suffered injuries before the Palau-flagged product tanker was released. The ship had been hijacked on 21 April 2026.
IMB said the renewed activity showed the pirates’ continuing ability to attack shipping, while noting that its geographical reach and scale remained below those of the 2008–2013 period.
The global breakdown comprised 36 boardings, eight hijackings, four cases of ships coming under fire and three unsuccessful boarding attempts. In 86% of cases, intruders got aboard the ships, whether the vessels were anchored or underway. Boardings mainly took place after dark, and weapons were present in 53% of the reported cases.
In the Singapore Straits, IMB recorded 13 incidents, compared with 73 a year earlier. Every targeted vessel was boarded. Attackers carried guns or knives in more than 69% of cases; two seafarers were held hostage, two faced threats and one suffered an injury.
The Gulf of Guinea recorded two incidents over the nine months, with no cases in July–September. IMB attributed part of the reduction there and in the Singapore Straits to measures taken by local authorities.
Indonesia’s archipelagic waters recorded six incidents, against nine in the equivalent 2025 period. One involved a weapon and a seafarer being held hostage.
In the Philippines, nine ships were boarded while anchored: Manila accounted for six cases and Batangas for three. The equivalent 2025 tally was zero. Two seafarers were held hostage, and five incidents involved weapons.
In its official announcement, IMB called on ships to stay alert, report incidents promptly and apply the latest Best Management Practices (BMP). It said ships following BMP had prevented hijackings even after intruders reached the vessel.
Director Michael Howlett called for sustained precautions despite the lower incident count. The bureau’s reporting appeal was directed at shipmasters and owners. Its Piracy Reporting Centre operates around the clock, assists ships facing threats and provides information to guide the allocation of security resources.
