Singapore Strait Sees Alarming Rise In Maritime Piracy & Armed Robbery

Global Maritime piracy and armed robbery incidents have seen a noticeable increase in the first three months of 2025, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

Between January and March 2025, 45 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were recorded worldwide. This marks an almost 35 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

The report added that 37 vessels were boarded, four were hijacked and there were four attempted attacks. The safety of crew members remains a major concern.

In total, 37 seafarers were taken hostage, 13 were kidnapped, 2 were threatened, and one person was injured during these maritime incidents.

The IMB’s Q1 report pointed to a striking surge in criminal activity in the Singapore Straits, where 27 incidents were reported, nearly four times the seven cases logged during the first quarter of 2024.

These waters have now become the most affected region globally. In six separate cases within the straits, ten crew members were held hostage. Two were threatened, and one was injured.

A majority of the targeted vessels- 92 per cent, were successfully boarded. This included large ships like nine bulk carriers and tankers, each over 100,000 deadweight tonnes.

The IMB’s director talked about the seriousness of this rise, stating that urgent efforts are needed to ensure the safety of seafarers navigating these critical waters.

He discussed the importance of safeguarding major maritime routes to protect crew members and global shipping interests.

The report stated that 31 of the total 45 incidents took place in Southeast Asia. Apart from the Singapore Straits, this makes Southeast Asia the most affected area globally during the first quarter of 2025.

On the other hand, the Gulf of Guinea saw only six reported incidents- the lowest number in nearly 20 years.

But despite the drop, it remains the most dangerous area for crew kidnappings. All 13 crew members kidnapped globally in Q1 were taken from this region during just two attacks.

In one case, pirates hijacked a bitumen tanker southeast of Santo Antonio, in Sao Tome and Principe, kidnapping 10 crew members.

In another incident, a fishing vessel was attacked south of Accra, Ghana, and three crew members were abducted. The IMB pointed out that while the drop in incident numbers is positive, the risk to the crew in this area remains high.

Continued naval presence and international cooperation are considered essential to ensure long-term security.

The first quarter also saw renewed activity off the coast of Somalia. Between 7 February and 16 March 2025, three vessels- two fishing boats and a dhow- were hijacked in separate incidents.

These hijackings involved 26 crew members being taken hostage. Fortunately, reports later confirmed that all hostages were released, along with the vessels.

The IMB urges shipping companies, regional authorities, and international navies to remain alert and proactive.

Reference: icc-ccs

Source: Maritime Shipping News