The latest report published by the ICC’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) analysing global piracy trends has highlighted both positive and negative patterns amidst the ongoing piracy risk.
On the positive side, the total number of piracy and armed robbery incidents worldwide declined in the first half of 2026, reaching their lowest level since 1992. Only 38 incidents were reported, down from 90 and 60 for the same periods in 2025 and 2024, respectively.
The 38 incidents comprised five vessels hijacked, 27 boarded, three fired upon, and three attempted attacks.
The lowest mid-year level of reported piracy and armed robbery incidents since 1992 is encouraging and reflects the impact of sustained efforts by governments, law enforcement agencies, and the maritime community,” IMB Director Michael Howlett said, in a 9 July press statement.
The statement highlighted a welcome decrease in incidents in the Gulf of Guinea and the Singapore Straits, two well-known piracy ‘hot spots’.
On the negative side, 67 crew members were taken hostage, with 94 percent of these mariners seized by Somali pirates. The negative statistics also include four vessels hijacked off Somalia between April and May – a significant part of the overall hijacking total.
Certainly, it was the Somali pirates’ extensive campaign against commercial shipping around the Horn of Africa from 2008 to 2014 that truly brought the piracy issue onto the global politico-strategic map.
In its press release, the IMB stated that the Somali pirates’ renewed activities demonstrated their ongoing ability to board all types of vessels and escalate the challenge once more in their region.
“Crew safety remains at risk, and the slight uptick of Somali piracy is a reminder that continued vigilance and regional co-operation remain essential to protect seafarers, global shipping, and trade,” Howlett added.
“Despite a decline in global piracy incidents, Somali piracy remains a threat,” the statement concluded, noting the need for shipping companies to adhere to the internationally recognised Best Management Practices (BMP) and to report incidents promptly, as well as for international naval forces to maintain a strong, visible deterrence presence in the region.
Piracy is defined as incidents that occur on the high seas, outside of any country’s 12-nautical-mile territorial waters; armed robbery covers incidents that occur within a country’s territorial waters.
by Dr. Lee Willett
