Global maritime piracy incidents dropped to their lowest level in 35 years in the first quarter of 2026, with just 16 reported cases worldwide, according to the International Maritime Bureau. This marks a sharp decline from 45 incidents in the first quarter of 2025 and 33 in 2024, making it the lowest first-quarter total recorded since 1991.
Despite the drop, piracy remains active and highly effective. Of the 16 incidents, 14 resulted in vessels being boarded, one vessel was hijacked, and one attack was attempted, indicating a 94 percent success rate once pirates engage a target. The data shows incidents were almost evenly split between ships underway and those at anchor, with bulk carriers accounting for half of all reported cases, while only one tanker was targeted during the quarter.
Risks to crews remain tangible. Two seafarers were taken hostage and one was injured, while perpetrators were armed in more than half of the incidents. Knives were reported in seven cases and firearms in two, underlining the continued threat environment even at lower overall incident levels.
Regionally, Southeast Asia continues to dominate the piracy landscape, accounting for roughly three-quarters of all reported incidents. The Singapore Strait alone accounted for eight cases, or half of the global total, although this represents a significant reduction compared to 31 incidents recorded in the same period last year following enforcement actions against organized groups behind the attacks.
Elsewhere, four incidents were reported in the Philippines, compared to none a year earlier, including cases near Manila and Batangas Bay, where one crew member was taken hostage. Activity has also reappeared off Somalia, with two incidents including one hijacking, while the Gulf of Guinea continued its downward trend with just a single reported case.
The IMB attributes the overall decline to sustained international cooperation, improved reporting, and enforcement efforts, but warns that piracy has not been eradicated. For shipowners and crews, the data reinforces that even at historically low levels, piracy continues to pose operational and safety risks, particularly in high-traffic regional hotspots.
