- Global piracy incidents declined by 3% in 2024, but regional threats persist.
- Somali pirate activity resurfaced, and Singapore Strait incidents increased.
- Violence against crew doubled, with more weapons used in attacks.
While global piracy incidents fell slightly in 2024, regional trends reveal a more complex picture. Somali pirates resurfaced for the first time since 2017, Southeast Asian waters saw an increase in incidents, and violence against crew intensified. However, West African piracy remained low, and South America recorded its safest year yet. The International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) urges vessels to stay alert, as threats can shift rapidly across regions, reports Gard.
Global Piracy Trends
The overall number of piracy and armed robbery incidents dropped by 3% in 2024 compared to the previous year. However, this decline masks significant risks in certain regions, particularly in the Western Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and West Africa.
Somali pirate activity returned after years of dormancy, with nine attacks, including four hijackings, reported between December 2023 and May 2024. These incidents occurred far from the Somali coast, demonstrating that pirate networks remain active. No additional Somali attacks have been recorded since May 2024, but authorities remain cautious.
Southeast Asian piracy continues to rise, especially in the Singapore Strait, which reported 61 incidents in 2024, up from 58 in 2023. The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP ISC) flagged the Philip Channel, off Pulau Cula, Indonesia, as a particularly risky zone.
Violence Against Crew at an All-Time High
“Another worrying trend is the increasing use of violence against and threats to vessels’ crew.” The number of impacted crew members has doubled for the second consecutive year, rising from 55 in 2022 to 151 in 2024. The IMB PRC also reported a rise in weapon use, with guns or knives used in 65 incidents in 2024, up from 55 in 2023.
This increase in violence was mainly driven by Somali pirate attacks, where hostage-taking was common. Southeast Asia also saw a rise in severe incidents, confirming ReCAAP ISC’s concerns about the worsening security situation in the region.
Asia: Singapore Strait and Bangladesh See Surges
“Incidents in the Singapore Strait continued to rise with 61 in 2024 compared to 58 in 2023 and 55 in 2022.” The majority of attacks occurred at night, targeting bulk carriers. Although these were mostly low-level thefts, perpetrators were often armed.
Bangladesh recorded its highest number of piracy incidents in a decade, with a particularly brutal robbery reported in January 2025. However, a positive trend emerged in the Sulu-Celebes Seas, where no crew abductions have been reported since January 2020.
Africa: Gulf of Guinea Sees Fewer Attacks, But Crew Kidnappings Persist
The Gulf of Guinea remains the most dangerous region for crew kidnappings, even as overall piracy levels fell to 18 incidents in 2024, down from 22 in 2023 and 81 in 2020. “Crew, however, continue to be at risk in West African waters as the region was responsible for 23% of all crew taken hostage and all crew kidnappings in 2024.”
Despite fewer overall attacks, Angola and Equatorial Guinea saw continued pirate activity, and one attack was even reported as far west as Cabo Verde. Two-thirds of West African piracy incidents occurred while vessels were anchored or berthed, making ports a major risk area.
In contrast, the return of Somali pirates in the Western Indian Ocean raised alarms. The first hijacking in seven years took place 700 nm east of Bosaso, Somalia, in December 2023, followed by eight more attacks in early 2024. While no further incidents have been reported since May 2024, authorities warn that “Somali pirates retain the capability and capacity to carry out attacks.”
The Americas: A Year of Record-Low Incidents
“With only two robbery incidents recorded in the South and Central American and the Caribbean waters in 2024, the IMB PRC’s five-year incident statistics show yet another year of welcome improvement for this region.” One incident occurred at Georgetown Port, Guyana, where robbers boarded a container vessel armed with knives. The second took place in Cartagena, Colombia, where thieves attempted to enter a tanker via its hawser pipe.
For the first time since 2016, no piracy incidents were reported at Callao Anchorage in Peru, one of the region’s most infamous hotspots. However, the IMB PRC advises vessels to remain cautious in past trouble zones, including Brazil (Macapa), Ecuador (Guayaquil), and Venezuela (Puerto La Cruz / Puerto Jose / Quanta).
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Source: Gard
