IMB’s six-monthly report shows worrying escalation in the Singapore Strait

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published its Monthly Piracy Report for the month of May 2025. According to reports the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB)‘s mid-year Piracy Reporting Center, the number of piracy incidents increased by 50% in the first six months of 2025.

The Singapore Strait is a critical shipping route

The report urges caution and expresses serious concern, noting that the increase in incidents in the Singapore Strait corresponds to a critical shipping lane that handles nearly a third of global trade flows.

The Singapore Strait is a critical shipping route, with ships carrying roughly 30% of global trade. This rise in incidents is deeply concerning as it puts the safety of our seafarers and the security of international commerce at risk

The first six months of the year

In the first six months of the year, 90 incidents were reported, compared to 60 in the first six months of 2024. The IMB reports that this is the highest rate recorded in the first half of the year since 2020. Furthermore, this is concerning because in 90% of cases, the vessels, mostly at sea, were successfully boarded. This year’s mid-year total also represents three-quarters of the 116 incidents reported for the whole of 2024.

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 The Singapore Strait region

Nearly two-thirds of the total number of reported attacks occurred in the Singapore Strait region. The IMB received reports of 57 incidents this year, compared to just 15 in the first half of 2024. The data shows a consistent trend, with fewer than 20 incidents in the first half of each of the past few years.

Boarding of large vessels 

“Boarding of large vessels over 150,000 gross tonnage in this narrow and congested waterway remains a significant concern, especially considering the 95% success rate of boardings in the Singapore Strait,” IMB writes in its report. “Although these incidents are relatively minor, this risk is further exacerbated by the continued use of firearms and knives in 34 of the 57 reported incidents. Crew safety and well-being also remain fragile, with 13 crew members held hostage during the incidents, five threatened, three injured, and one assaulted.”

Overall, the IMB estimates that so far in 2025, 40 crew members have been taken hostage, 16 kidnapped, five threatened, three assaulted, and three injured.

The Gulf of Guinea, while recording fewer incidents overall this year, accounted for 87% of crew kidnappings. A total of 12 incidents were reported, compared to between 10 and 14 in the first half of the year.

Incidents off Somalia

Other regions remained overall calm with only a small number of piracy incidents reported. IMB urges seafarers to exercise vigilance, noting that the risks remain. It notes, for example, that there have been no incidents off Somalia since April 2025, but as monsoon season subsides, the risk will increase.

Related :IMB : Piracy decreased but kidnappings of seafarers increased

Related : (ReCAAP) : Thefts on ships and waters in Asian seaports

Source : Agencies

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