Piracy surging in Strait of Malacca area

Maritime crime in the Strait of Malacca and Singapore Strait has surged in the early part of 2025, with 27 incidents reported in the first quarter of the year compared to seven in the same period last year, International Maritime Bureau (IMB) data reveals. The majority of these incidents are armed robbery attempts and classified as "low-level opportunistic crimes" but worryingly, IMB said 92 per cent of vessels targeted were successfully boarded, including nine bulk carriers.