This week, on ly two incidents were recorded as a vessel was seized in the Indian Ocean, and a minor collision occurred in East Asia.  Download the full report here: Executive Summary Indian Ocean: Amidst rising geopolitical tensions, US forces sent a strong signal of dedicated enforcement of the maritime blockade of Venezuela by seizing the Aquila II, after a 5 week chase into the Indian Ocean.   East Asia: A collision occurred between a fishing vessel and a chemical tanker

The sanctioned tanker, Aquila II, has been seized in the Indian Ocean, following a 15,000 km pursuit by U.S. forces. A U.S. Navy warship shadows Aquila II, leading to the vessel’s seizure in the Indian Ocean after fleeing U.S. forces from the Caribbean. Photo: Department of War On the 9 th of February, U.S. forces boarded and seized the tanker Aquila II  in the Indian Ocean, marking one of the most geographically ambitious maritime interdictions in modern sanctions enforceme

This week incidents spanned West and East Africa, as well as the Northwest Indian Ocean, including new piracy threats, attempted robberies, seizures, and military engagements. Executive Summary East Africa: A new Pirate Action Group (PAG) has been spotted near the Duradura Coast, Somalia. West Africa: An intruder nearly boarded a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel located about 50 km off the Angolan coast. North Indian Ocean: India and Iran have each

Read the full article to understand more about the geography of weapons and violence in piracy attacks. Piracy, Knives and Firearms In 2025, weapons were used in 79 piracy incidents (representing half of all reported incidents and the highest since 2021). The incidents mostly involved firearms , used in 53.16% of the cases, followed by knives , whose use is now at a historic low of 41.77% . The trend is concerning, as it represents a step away from low-end, close-contact i

Robberies across Southeast Asia and West Africa, with drone strikes on ports and beached naval mines in Europe. This week , incidents spanned West Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia, with activity concentrated in Europe, including drone strikes on ports and the discovery of naval mines ashore. Executive Summary Key trends this week: West Africa  - A bulk carrier has been robbed by two individuals whilst at anchor at Takoradi anchorage, Ghana. Europe  - Pivdennyi port was hit

Read the full article to get insights into the Houthis’ operational capacity and threat assessment of transiting the area. Following the Gaza ceasefire in late 2025, Houthi attacks against shipping and commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea have subsided. While transit in the Suez Canal has not returned to pre-crisis levels , some major container lines, such as Ocean Network Express and Maersk, have returned to the region in a limited capacity . However, this fragile equ

Piracy threats, international tensions, and operational oversights This week ten maritime incidents were recorded across the Caribbean Sea, Europe, the Gulf of Guinea and Southeast Asia. Incidents primarily involve piracy threats, operational accidents and international maritime spillovers . Executive Summary Key trends this week: Americas: U.S. Forces continue to seize sanctioned vessels transiting the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela. Europe: An oil spill resulted in the r

The IMB 2025 Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships report reveals piracy incidents have reached their highest level since they started reporting, and sheds light on concerning trends in maritime crime. Full report can be accessed here . A Surge in Piracy Incidents On January 15th, the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) released the 2025 edition of their yearly report of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships. The report shows that piracy has increased to an all time hi

Drone strikes, Oil spills, in Europe, state-led seizures in the Americas, and armed robberies in South East Asia. This reporting period saw seven serious maritime security incidents in European, South East Asian, and Central American waters. These included multiple drone strikes, state-led seizures, and armed robbery, highlighting escalating threats from both state and non-state actors. Executive Summary Key trends this week: Singapore Strait - Armed robberies continue, targ

Shadow fleet seizures, drone warfare in the Black Sea, and crew kidnappings in West Africa This reporting period recorded nine serious maritime security incidents  across the Caribbean, Black Sea, Gulf of Guinea and Southeast Asia . Events ranged from state-led tanker seizures  to drone strikes on civilian shipping  and a crew kidnapping off Gabon , underlining the growing complexity of the global threat environment. Executive Summary Key trends this week: Caribbean Sea  – US

The maritime industry faces a clear and present danger as ships become prime targets for cyberattacks that can cripple operations, endanger safety, and disrupt global trade. The Cost of Inaction: Real-Life Incidents and Crushing Financial Impact Cyber incidents in the shipping industry follow a pattern of low frequency, but exceptionally high impact . The consequences extend far beyond a single ship, threatening global supply chains and causing financial fallout in the hundre

Hijacking off Somalia, airstrikes in the Gulf of Aden, and drone activity across Europe The final days of 2025 and the opening week of 2026 saw hijacking, kidnappings, drone strikes, and military air operations  affecting maritime activity across East Africa, West Africa, Europe, and the Gulf of Aden . The incidents highlight the continued convergence of piracy, state-level conflict, and infrastructure disruption , with clear implications for commercial shipping transiting hi

The US announced its 10th deadly missile strike on a maritime vessel accused of trafficking illegal narcotics in the Eastern Pacific, marking the 3rd strike last week. When Counter-Narcotics Turns Into Naval Warfare USS Gerald R. Ford has left Croatia, and is headed to Venezuela to join the carrier strike group against transnational criminal organizations in the Caribbean (Seaman Alyssa Joy/USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)/Digital) The Caribbean Sea is currently the stage for an u

Two adrift USVs have been reported in the Black Sea within the past 2 months, marking a new maritime threat within the region A Dangerous Pattern On 29th September, Turkish fishermen found a USV, loaded with 300 kg of explosives Since early 2022, drifting naval devices have become an alarming byproduct of the Russo-Ukrainian war. What began with floating mines has evolved into a broader threat with Ukraine’s increasing use of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). These potentially

Escalation risks in the Red Sea, port strikes in the Black Sea, piracy in Southeast Asia, and a live pursuit in the Caribbean The final reporting period of December saw seven significant maritime security incidents  across the Red Sea, Black Sea, Southeast Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and the Caribbean Sea . The incidents ranged from state seizures and missile strikes  to armed robberies and piracy , underlining the persistent and evolving risks facing commercial shipping at year

Kidnapping in West Africa, multi-craft attacks in the Bab el-Mandeb, and renewed drone activity in the Black Sea This week saw armed attacks, kidnappings, and drone activity  across the Black Sea, Red Sea/Bab el-Mandeb, and West Africa. The incidents highlight an increasingly volatile environment for commercial shipping, with uncrewed systems , small-boat swarm tactics , and crew abductions  continuing to feature prominently. Executive Summary According to the report, the per

Seven incidents across four regions: piracy, drone warfare, port theft, and escalating unrest Seven notable maritime security incidents were recorded this reporting period across Southeast Asia, the Mozambique Channel, the Black Sea, and the Bay of Bengal . The incidents ranged from armed piracy and ship store theft  to drone and USV attacks  and growing labour unrest , underscoring a complex, multi-region threat environment for commercial shipping. Executive Summary This wee

Drone attacks on Izmail Port and attempted boarding in Lagos highlight continued multi-regional threats Two major maritime security incidents were recorded this week across Europe  and West Africa , reflecting ongoing risks from both state-level conflict spillover  and opportunistic criminal activity . Operators in affected regions should maintain strict vigilance, update crew awareness, and ensure BMP-MS and local best practices are enforced. Executive Summary This week saw

A veteran seafarer recounts the day routine work turned into a life-or-death struggle off the coast of Somalia. Life at sea can seem predictable, with endless horizons and routine work. For most sailors, the greatest dangers are storms or equipment failures, not armed attackers. But for Karol Edmund Sobczak , a veteran who spent nearly twenty years on deck, the calm of routine was shattered in a single, unforgettable incident . Palaemon spoke with Sobczak about his years at s

Violent piracy in Southeast Asia, a state-led tanker hijacking in the Strait of Hormuz, and continued strikes in the Black Sea Seven incidents were recorded this week across Southeast Asia, the Gulf of Guinea, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Black Sea , showing a mix of violent piracy, targeted state intervention, and ongoing conflict-driven attacks . Crew were threatened with weapons, a tanker was forcibly seized by Iranian forces, and Ukrainian drone/missile strikes continued