IMB Mid-Year Report: Somalia Is the Outlier in an Otherwise Record-Low Year for Global Piracy

The International Maritime Bureau's first-half 2026 report found global piracy at a 34-year low, but Somalia bucking the trend: 27 vessels boarded January-June, 5 hijacked, 3 fired upon and 3 attempted attacks, with Somali pirates accounting for 94% of hostages taken worldwide in the period. IMB Director Michael Howlett urged continued vigilance in the region even as incident rates fell everywhere else.