MOGADISHU, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- A global maritime watchdog on Thursday called for increased vigilance due to a recent resurgence in Somali piracy.
According to the nine-month report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the threat of violence against crew members remains a major concern, prompting calls for timely incident reporting and strict adherence to Best Management Practices.
While overall piracy incidents remain at historic lows, the IMB recorded a surge in Somali piracy activity from January to September, with Somali pirates responsible for eight vessel hijackings and 94 percent of all crew members taken hostage globally.
"While incident levels are at their lowest in more than three decades, the recent uptick in Somali piracy activity is a reminder that the threat remains," IMB Director Michael Howlett said.
"Continued vigilance is essential to safeguarding seafarers and the vital trade routes on which the global economy depends," he added.
Despite some fatal incidents, the IMB noted that current activity remains far below the scale and deep-sea reach seen during the peak piracy era of 2008-2013. Meanwhile, only two incidents were reported in the Gulf of Guinea, with zero recorded in the most recent quarter.
Globally, the IMB reported just 51 incidents of piracy and armed robbery during the period, marking the lowest level recorded since 1992.
According to the report, 36 vessels were boarded, eight hijacked, four fired upon, and three subjected to attempted boardings.
Despite the historic decline in total events, physical threats to seafarers intensified, with 105 crew members directly affected, up from 72 in the same period in 2025. ■
