This is where pirates most often attack ships – the hotspot is no longer Africa Massacre in a brothel: three women stabbed to death in Vienna

Piracy is an age-old business model. Even today, pirates still cause mischief in the world’s oceans. However, the black and white pirate flag with the skull no longer flies.

However, the number of pirate attacks is likely to be significantly lower than in the heyday of pirates and privateers. The number of robberies has also decreased more or less consistently in recent years. This is despite the fact that a slight increase in the number of reported pirate attacks was observed in 2023. The “IMB Piracy Reporting Center” received 120 reports last year, and in 2022 there were still 115:

The peak occurred between 2009 and 2011, when more than 400 reports were received annually. At the time, between 2000 and 2011, the pirate hotspot was off the coast of Somalia, when the civil war there favored a 'lawless' area. The problem in Somalia was largely neutralized by the large-scale deployment of the army. From 2017 to 2023, no pirate attacks have been reported in the Horn of Africa.

Singapore Street becomes a hotspot

However, in 2023 there was an increase again in other areas - even though the year started quietly. In the first quarter, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) recorded the lowest number of attacks since 1993, but several incidents occurred in the following nine months, mainly in the Gulf of Guinea and the Strait of Singapore.

The Southeast Asian region developed into a piracy hotspot. In 2023 alone, 67 incidents were reported there – that is more than half of all attacks.

There are pirate attacks here all over the world

As current data shows, Southeast Asia remains one of the most dangerous pirate zones with the Singapore Strait at the end of the approximately 800 kilometer long Strait of Malacca. The strait has been known for piracy for centuries.

Even after the turn of the millennium, attacks on one of the busiest trade routes increased, with around 250 ships arriving every day. These were greatly reduced by increased patrols. However, in recent years they have increased again.

The IMB also received many reports from Peru last year. Ships anchored near the port city of Callao are often attacked by pirates armed with knives.

In 2024, more than twenty incidents involving pirates took place again. Six of them in the Straits of Singapore and Malacca:

These ships are under attack

Merchant ships are usually attacked because the pirates are after the goods as loot. Passenger ships are usually spared from attacks.

That's how successful pirate attacks are

Pirate attacks are 91 percent successful. The thieves usually make off with some loot. The problem for shipping companies is that the effort required for protected transport is very high. The danger can be limited with patrols and satellite monitoring. In short, the pirates are very difficult to catch with their maneuverable small boats.

At least nine attacks were repelled early on. This is often the case when a patrol on the ship discovers the attackers early and raises the alarm. During the shooting incidents, the attackers gave up when they noticed there was armed resistance. In short: pirate attacks can usually only be defended with large numbers of personnel.