Navigation in the Gulf of Aden and the waters of Somalia is entering a new phase of high risk, as piracy returns forcefully, taking advantage of the security gap created by the redeployment of international naval forces toward areas of tension in the Middle East.

With attacks having more than tripled year-on-year and more than 90 seafarers being held captive, the international maritime community is warning of a rapid deterioration in security in one of the most critical maritime arteries of global trade.

According to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), six vessels and more than 90 seafarers are currently under the control of pirates or armed robbers. The Organization issued its new warning following the seizure, on August 20, of the product tanker SIBU 1, formerly SEAMULL, in the Gulf of Aden. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez warned of a rapid deterioration in the security situation, stressing that these waters are becoming increasingly dangerous for seafarers. At the same time, he called on shipping companies to strictly implement best protection practices and the Organization’s relevant guidelines. Particular reference is made to circular MSC.1/Circ.1601/Rev.2, which contains the IMO’s revised guidelines for dealing with piracy.

Among other measures, these provide for a risk assessment before departure, selection of a safer route, increased surveillance, strengthening the vessel’s protection with armed guards, and clear communication and response procedures in the event of an attack.

The head of the IMO is also calling for international naval cooperation to be strengthened once again, as it had played a decisive role in the past in containing Somali piracy. As he stressed, the international community cannot allow a new piracy threat to become entrenched in one of the most important maritime routes for global trade.

“More than 90 innocent seafarers are being held captive today,”

he said, noting that several 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 Dominguez called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained seafarers, noting that no crew member should become a victim of violence, intimidation or exploitation while carrying out their work.

According to the International Maritime Bureau, by June 30, 2026, ten incidents of piracy or attempted attacks had been recorded.

These were followed by the seizures of the tankers Asana and Sibu 1, as well as the general cargo vessel Lutuf, bringing the total number of incidents to at least 13 by August 20.

The SIBU 1, IMO number 9204776, is a tanker of approximately 32,200 dwt, built in 2001. On the day of the attack, it was sailing westward through the central Gulf of Aden when it issued a distress message via VHF, reporting the approach of an unauthorized vessel.

The incident occurred approximately 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen, within the internationally recognized transit corridor in the Gulf of Aden.

Based on records from the JMIC (Joint Maritime Information Center) and 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 altered its course. At 09:57 UTC, the incident was officially classified as a pirate seizure, while the perpetrators were reportedly intending to take the vessel toward Bosaso, Somalia.

There were 20 seafarers aboard the SIBU 1. Among them were 16 Indians, one Syrian, one Sudanese and one Iraqi, while the nationality of one additional crew member had not been established. Indian authorities had announced that the 16 Indian seafarers were safe. However, the release of either the crew or the vessel had not been confirmed.

A past connection to the Iranian “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 (the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control), it had repeatedly been used to transport Iranian petroleum products, including naphtha and gasoil, and had made calls at ports in Yemen controlled by the Houthis.

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 United States, was used to circumvent sanctions against Iran. It has not been confirmed what cargo the vessel was carrying at the time of the pirate seizure.

Against this backdrop, the IMO is calling on flag states, coastal states and shipping companies to strengthen protective measures and minimize crews’ exposure to preventable risks.

Piracy in Somali waters at its highest level in five years

According to the report of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), in June 2026 pirate activity shifted toward waters off the coast of Somalia. In the first half of 2026, ten incidents were reported, compared with just three during the corresponding period in 2025. This represents more than a threefold increase in one year and the highest level in the past five years. In the first half of 2024, eight incidents had been recorded, while no incidents were reported in 2022 or 2023.

In light of the new situation, the IMB is warning the maritime community against complacency and is calling on vessels transiting these maritime areas to strictly implement the latest Best Management Practices (BMP) for protection against pirate attacks.

Worldwide, by June 2026, the IMB had recorded a total of 38 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against vessels. According to its data, during the January-June period, perpetrators managed to board vessels in 27 of the 38 incidents; five vessels were hijacked, three came under fire, and three attempted attacks were also recorded.

The impact on crews remains particularly serious. A total of 70 seafarers were affected by piracy incidents, of whom 67 were taken hostage, two were threatened and one was injured.

An indication of the intensity of the attacks is that, according to the IMB, in 84% of the vessels that came under attack, the perpetrators ultimately managed to board.

Security gap in the Gulf of Aden strengthens pirate activity

Maritime security companies attribute a significant part of the new surge in Somali piracy to the redeployment of international naval forces toward areas of tension in the Middle East.

According to the relevant assessments, the increased military presence around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has reduced surveillance in other areas of the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean, creating greater opportunities for pirate groups to operate.

The development comes at a time of increased pressure on international shipping, which is facing attacks in critical maritime passages, higher energy costs and a significant decline in commercial traffic along some of the world’s most important arteries of global trade.