• Nigeria recorded four incidents as criminals target bulk carriers, container vessels
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has reported that the Singapore Straits recorded 80 piracy cases last year.

The figure accounted for 58.4 per cent of 137 incidents recorded in the year.

Alongside Somalia, Angola, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nigeria, six countries accounted for 81 per cent of the cases documented.

In the IMB Yearly Piracy and Armed Robbery Report 2025, Singapore Straits emerged as the highest hotspot with 80 incidents, followed by Indonesia with 12, Bangladesh (six), Somalia (five), while Nigeria and Angola have four incidents each.

The report stated that 121 vessels were boarded during the year, with four hijacked, two fired at and 10 attempted attacks.

IMB’s analysis of incidents by vessel type over the same period shows that bulk carriers were the most frequently targeted, accounting for 50 incidents, container vessels recorded 20 incidents, while chemical and product tankers together accounted for 24 incidents.

Other incidents involved 19 product tankers, 10 crude oil tankers, nine general cargo, five chemical tankers, four LPG tankers, four fishing vessels, one LNG tanker, one bunkering tanker, one asphalt or bitumen tanker and one offshore supply ship.

The report showed other affected vessel types included one accommodation barge, nine tug and barge/offshore, one Dhow and one refrigerated cargo ship.

It also showed regional distribution of the incident, as Southeast Asia accounted for the majority of reported incidents with 95 cases. Africa recorded 29 incidents, while the Indian sub-continent accounted for eight and the Americas recorded five incidents during the period under review.

A country-by-country breakdown shows that in Indonesia, 11 vessels were boarded and one attempted attack was recorded.

In the Malacca Straits, one vessel was boarded, while Malaysia and the Philippines each recorded one vessel boarded.

The Singapore Straits saw 75 vessels boarded and five attempted attacks, Bangladesh had five vessels boarded and one attempted attack reported, while India recorded two vessels boarded.

Colombia recorded two vessels boarded, Ecuador one attempted attack, Haiti one vessel boarded, and Peru one vessel boarded.

In African waters, Nigeria recorded three vessels boarded and one attempted attack. Angola recorded four vessels boarded, the Democratic Republic of Congo had one vessel boarded, Equatorial Guinea recorded two vessels boarded, and Ghana saw three vessels boarded.

There were cases in Liberia, Mozambique, as well as Sao Tome and Principe.

In its regional advisory for West Africa, particularly the Gulf of Guinea, the bureau reiterated that vessels should continue to follow the recommendations and guidelines set out in the Best Management Practices (BMP) for West Africa (BMP WA).

According to the IMB, Nigeria, covering Apapa port in Lagos as well as waters off Bayelsa, Brass, Bonny Island and Port Harcourt, remains classified as high-risk.

The IMB noted that pirates and robbers in Nigerian waters are armed and violent, with a history of crew kidnappings and incidents occurring up to 300 nautical miles from shore.

Although incidents in Nigeria have decreased significantly in recent times, the bureau advised vessels to remain vigilant as some incidents may go unreported.