Shipping in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters is entering a new phase of high risk, as piracy is making a strong comeback, exploiting the security vacuum created by the redeployment of international naval forces to hotspots in the Middle East.
With attacks having more than tripled on an annual basis and more than 90 sailors being held captive, the international shipping community is warning of a rapid deterioration in security along one of the most critical maritime arteries of global trade.
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According to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), six ships and more than 90 seafarers are currently under the control of pirates or armed robbers. The Organization’s new warning was issued following the hijacking, on August 20, of the product tanker SIBU 1, formerly SEAMULL, in the Gulf of Aden. The IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Domínguez, warned of a rapid deterioration in the security situation, noting that these waters are becoming increasingly dangerous for seafarers. At the same time, he called on shipping companies to strictly implement best security practices and the Organization’s relevant guidelines. Special mention is made of Circular MSC.1/Circ.1601/Rev.2, which includes the IMO’s revised guidelines for combating piracy.
Among other things, it provides for a pre-departure risk assessment, selection of a safer route, increased surveillance, enhanced ship security with armed guards, and clear communication and response procedures in the event of an attack.
The head of the IMO also calls for a renewed strengthening of international maritime cooperation, which in the past had played a decisive role in curbing Somali piracy. As he noted, the international community cannot allow a new piracy threat to take root in one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.
“More than 90 innocent seafarers are currently being held captive,” he said, noting that many of them have limited access to food, water, medical care, and other basic services, while their families have very little reliable information about their fate.
Arsenio Domínguez called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained seafarers, noting that no crew member should be subjected to violence, intimidation, or exploitation while performing their duties.
According to the International Maritime Bureau, as of June 30, 2026, ten incidents of piracy or attempted attacks had been recorded.
This was followed by the hijackings of the tankers Asana and Sibu 1, as well as the general-cargo ship Lutuf, bringing the total number of incidents to at least 13 as of August 20.
The SIBU 1, with IMO number 9204776, is a tanker of approximately 32,200 dwt, built in 2001. On the day of the attack, it was sailing westward in the central Gulf of Aden when it transmitted a distress signal via VHF, reporting that an unauthorized vessel was approaching.
The incident occurred approximately 136 nautical miles east of Al-Mukalla, Yemen, within the internationally recognized shipping lane in the Gulf of Aden.
Based on reports from the JMIC (Joint Maritime Information Center) and the UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations), at 08:25 UTC, it became known that the vessel was under pirate attack. Six armed men boarded the tanker, seized the bridge, and changed its course. At 09:57 UTC, the incident was officially classified as a pirate hijacking, and the perpetrators were reportedly intending to steer the vessel toward Bosaso, Somalia.
There were 20 crew members aboard the SIBU 1. Among them were 16 Indians, one Syrian, one Sudanese, and one Iraqi, while the nationality of one other crew member had not been confirmed. Indian authorities had announced that the 16 Indian sailors were safe. However, the release of neither the crew nor the vessel had been confirmed.
A History in Iran’s “Shadow Fleet”
The tanker was previously named SEAMULL and was added to the U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions list in December 2025. According to OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury), it had been repeatedly used to transport Iranian petroleum products, including naphtha and gasoil, and had called at Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen.
U.S. authorities had linked it to Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management LLC, a company based in the United Arab Emirates, placing it within a network that, according to the U.S., was used to circumvent sanctions against Iran. It has not been confirmed what cargo the ship was carrying at the time of the hijacking.
In this context, the IMO calls on flag states, coastal states, and shipping companies to strengthen security measures and minimize crews’ exposure to preventable risks.
Piracy in Somali waters at its highest level in five years
According to a report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), as of June 2026, pirate activity has shifted toward the waters off the coast of Somalia. Ten incidents were reported in the first half of 2026, compared to just three during the same period in 2025. This represents more than a threefold increase in just one year and the highest level in the past five years. In the first half of 2024, eight incidents were recorded, while none were reported in 2022 or 2023. In light of this new trend, the IMB warns the shipping community against complacency and urges ships transiting these specific maritime areas to strictly implement the most recent Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect themselves from pirate attacks.
Internationally, as of June 2026, the IMB had recorded a total of 38 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships. According to its data for the January–June period, in 27 of the 38 incidents, the perpetrators managed to board the ships; five ships were hijacked; three came under fire, and three attempted attacks were also recorded. The impact on crews remains particularly severe. A total of 70 seafarers were affected by piracy incidents, of whom 67 were held hostage, two were threatened, and one was injured.
Indicative of the intensity of the attacks is the fact that, according to the IMB, the perpetrators ultimately managed to board 84% of the ships that were attacked.
A security vacuum in the Gulf of Aden is fueling pirate activity
Maritime security companies attribute a significant portion of the recent resurgence in Somali piracy to the redeployment of international naval forces to hotspots in the Middle East.
According to relevant assessments, the increased military presence around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has limited surveillance in other areas of the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean, creating greater scope for pirate groups to operate. This development comes at a time of increased pressure on international shipping, which is facing attacks on critical maritime chokepoints, higher energy costs, and a significant decline in commercial traffic on some of the world’s most vital trade routes.
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