Piracy surges in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast

Piracy in the waters off the Horn of Africa, including the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean, has reached its highest level since 2013. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), at least 15 attacks have been recorded since the beginning of 2026, marking a significant increase from the five attacks reported in all of 2025. Eight of these incidents occurred in the Gulf of Aden since May alone.

The surge in maritime insecurity follows the redeployment of international naval forces to other conflict zones in the Middle East, specifically following the US-Iran war that began on February 28. Currently, six ships and more than 90 seafarers are being held by pirates or armed robbers. The most recent incident involved the seizure of the product tanker SIBU 1, formerly known as SEAMULL, on August 20.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has warned that the situation is deteriorating rapidly, making these waters increasingly dangerous for global trade. Shipping companies are being urged to strictly adhere to established maritime security best practices to protect their crews and vessels as investigations and regional naval monitoring continue.