2024 in piracy

2024 in piracy was reported by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) division of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) as including 116 maritime piracy and armed robbery incidents against ships.[1]

Piracy surged in the Gulf of Aden at the start of the year.[2] Increased incidents of piracy and hijacking in the Somali basin continued to be reported.[3] When Houthis began attacking international shipping in the Red Sea, the year before, Somali pirates seized the opportunity to increase their attacks on ships off the Horn of Africa.[4][5]

Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea extended beyond the Gaza war to, as stated by a Houthi spokesman in January 2024, response to "American-British aggression against our country". US Central Command then stated that the Houthi attacks "have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza" and that Houthis had "fired indiscriminately into the Red Sea" to target vessels, affecting more than 40 nations.[6]

In March, shipping routes reported as the most dangerous in the world due to piracy (aside from hijackings and other incidents in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden related to the Gaza war) were identified as: the Singapore Strait, Gulf of Guinea and the Strait of Malacca.[7] 33 maritime piracy and armed robbery incidents against ships—during which 35 seafarers were taken hostage, and nine were kidnapped—were recorded in the first quarter of the year.[8]

From November 2023 to June 2024, more than 50 ships were attacked by Houthi rebels, resulting in the deaths of three sailors, and a hijacking. US military responded to the missile strikes in the Arabian and Red Seas with a series of attacks on the rebels' radar sites, which facilitated the targeting of maritime vessels; US Central Command reported seven radar sites destroyed in June.[9]

On 12 June, Houthi militants launched their first unmanned, remote-controlled USVs laden with explosives, sinking the MV Tutor, and killing one Filipino crewman. The following month, armed private maritime security contractors destroyed another Houthi drone boat as it approached the (unidentified) merchant ship that they were aboard.[10][11]

In September, the ICC IMB reported that sea piracy and armed robbery incidents were at the lowest levels recorded since 1994, though related crew safety risks persisted,[12] due to sharp increases in kidnappings and in violence toward crew, as reported in July.[13]

## Attacks and events

[edit]

Pirate attacks of 2024 include events listed below; the list is not exhaustive.

### INS Sumitra

[edit]

On January 29, the INS Sumitra rescued a hijacked fishing boat from Somalian pirates in the Gulf of Aden.[14][15]

### MV Abdullah

[edit]

Main article: MV Abdullah § Hijacking

On March 12, armed pirates in small boats attacked Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier MV Abdullah.[16] All 23 crew members aboard were taken hostage.[17] Somali pirates released the vessel and crew on April 14, following payment of $5 million (€4.7 million) ransom.[18]

### MV Ruen

[edit]

On March 16, MV Ruen, following its hijacking in the Arabian Sea, approximately 380 nautical miles east of Socotra, Yemen in December 2023,[19] was rescued by the Indian Air Force, which airdropped two rigid inflatable combat boats carrying eight Indian Navy MARCOS commandos,[20] rescuing 17 sailors and disarming 35 pirates on board.[21][22][23] Later that month, India escorted the captured Somali pirates to stand trial for the hijacking the vessel and kidnapping of its crew in Mumbai.[24]

### Magalie

[edit]

See also: Haitian crisis (2018–present) and Piracy in the Caribbean § Caribbean piracy in the 21st century

On April 4, the Panama-flagged Magalie was attacked in the Caribbean[25] by two Haitian gangs: 5 Seconds and Taliban (unrelated to the Afghan Taliban). The Magalie was captured by the armed gangs in the Varreux fuel terminal at Port-Au-Prince. The crew was taken hostage and a sixth of the cargo, consisting entirely of rice (the primary staple food of Haiti), was stolen. On April 7, the Haitian National Police stormed the seized freighter, ensuing in a five-hour gun battle with the gangs,[26] in which two police officers were injured and several of the two gang's members turned pirate were killed.[25] The ship, owned by U.S. shipping company Claude and Magalie,[27][28] was recovered by the Haitian police force.[26] The fate of the crew and any other seafarers aboard the Magalie, who were all taken hostage, remained unknown.[27]

### Al-Kambar 786

[edit]

On March 28, Al-Kambar 786, was boarded by nine armed pirates southwest of the Yemeni island of Socotra. INS Sumedha and INS Trishul intercepted the vessel on March 29. The Indian Navy engaged in "over 12 hours of intense coercive tactical measures" that led to the pirates' surrender. The crew was unharmed.[29] The pirates were taken to India to face prosecution under its Maritime Anti-Piracy Act 2022.[30]

### MV Tutor

[edit]

Main article: Attacks on the MV Tutor

Dry-bulk carrier MV Tutor was attacked in the Red Sea off Eritrea by the first seafaring Houthi unmanned, remote-controlled drone boat which was laden with explosives, on 12 June 2024, following two attacks a few hours apart,[31] sinking on 18 June.[32]

### Royal TB 17

[edit]

An Indonesia-flagged tugboat, Royal 17, while towing a barge between ports on the island of Kalimantan in Borneo was hijacked and robbed on 20 September. All 14 crew were taken hostage and individually robbed by five armed and masked pirates, who also stole various equipment as well as cargo.[33]

### Cordelia Moon

[edit]

Mistaken by Houthis as a British ship, Panama-flagged Cordelia Moon was hit by four missiles fired from a remotely piloted watercraft in the Red Sea on October 1, 2024. The tanker is owned by Amber Shipping Incorporated, and managed by Margao Marine Solutions, which is registered in India.[34]

## See also

[edit]

* Red Sea crisis—2024 Houthi attacks on commercial vessels

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Lamorena, Josh. "Maritime piracy dropped in 2024, but crew safety remains at risk – ICC – Commercial Crime Services". Retrieved 2025-06-06.
2. ^ "Terrorism, militancy and pirates: Gulf of Aden hijacking underlines naval challenges". The Indian Express. 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
3. ^ "Paying the price may cause piracy to rise". safety4sea.com. Safety4Sea. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
4. ^ "Bangladeshs growing role in maritime security". observerbd.com. The Daily Observer. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
5. ^ "Prices for maritime security guards in Red Sea shoot up following Houthis attacks". TASS. Russia. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
6. ^ "Houthis attack British-linked tanker Marlin Luanda in Gulf of Aden". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
7. ^ "Pirates, hijacks and hurricanes: The world's most dangerous shipping routes revealed". TBS News. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
8. ^ "New report highlights continued threat of Somali piracy 2023 03 IMB Report 1". icc-ccs.org. Commercial Crime Services. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
9. ^ "US launches wave of strikes on Houthi rebel targets in Yemen". EuroNews. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
10. ^ "Guards Shoot and Detonate Houthi Bomb Boat Just Yards Away From Impact". maritime-executive.com. The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
11. ^ "DFA hoping missing Filipino seaman still alive". Daily Tribune. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
12. ^ Lamorena, Josh. "Maritime crime and piracy incidents lowest since 1994, but threats to crews remain". icc-ccs.org. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
13. ^ Peachey, Paul (2024-07-17). "Pirates growing more violent as gun and knife cases rise in 2024". TradeWinds | Latest shipping and maritime news. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
14. ^ "Indian Navy rescues Iranian vessel hijacked by pirates". Hindustan Times. 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
15. ^ "Disruptions to supply chains on the high seas". FleetWatch.co.za. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
16. ^ "Pirates seize control of cargo ship near Somalia, say owners". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
17. ^ "Live Piracy & Armed Robbery Report 2024". icc-ccs.org. Commercial Crime Services. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
18. ^ Abdiqani, Hassani. "Somali pirates say hijacked ship MV Abdullah released after $5 million (€4.7 million) ransom was paid". Reuters. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
19. ^ "Indian Navy tails hijacked vessel headed for Somalia". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
20. ^ Peri, Dinakar (2024-04-21). "Indian Navy's 40-hour operation! Pirates shot down Navy's drone, Marine Commandos airdropped". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
21. ^ "Navy rescues 17 crew from hijacked ship, captures 35 pirates after 40-hour op". India Today. 17 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
22. ^ "Ships, Drones, Commandos: How Indian Navy Rescued Hijacked Vessel". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
23. ^ "India's navy takes control of bulk carrier hijacked by Somali pirates and evacuates crew". Associated Press. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
24. ^ "Captured Somali pirates arrive in India to face trial over ship hijacking". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
25. ^ a b "Five-hour gun battle between gangsters and police sees ship freed". tradewindsnews.com. TradeWinds. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
26. ^ a b "Haiti's Gangs Try Their Hand at Piracy, Hijacking a Ship Full of Food". maritime-executive.com. The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
27. ^ a b "Haitian gangs rob cargo ship of food". Insurance Marine News. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
28. ^ "CLAUDE & MAGALIE SHIPPING, Miami FL, United States of America". world-ships.com. World Shipping Register. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
29. ^ "Indian Navy rescues Iranian fishing vessel hijacked by pirates". Reuters. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
30. ^ "9 pirates being brought to India to face legal action, says Navy a day after rescuing 23 Pakistani crew from Iranian fishing vessel". The Economic Times. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
31. ^ Papachristou, Harry (12 June 2024). "Stricken Evalend bulker needs assistance after Houthi strike in Red Sea". TradeWinds. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
32. ^ "Bulker Tutor Sinks, Becoming Second Vessel Lost From Houthi Attacks". maritime-executive.com. The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
33. ^ "Pirates Hijack Tug and Barge in Indonesia Robbing Crew, Stealing Cargo". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
34. ^ "Houthis back on the attack again". PortNews. 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2024-10-04.

* v
* t
* e

Piracy

Periods|

* Ancient Mediterranean
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Types of pirate|

* Albanian piracy
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Areas|

| Atlantic World|

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|

Indian Ocean|

* Horn of Africa
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Other waters|

* Baltic Slavic piracy
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Pirate havens
and bases|

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Major figures|

| Pirates|

* Abduwali Muse
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* Simon Mascarino
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* Teuta
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* Vincenzo Gambi
* Wang Zhi
* William Dampier
* William Kidd
* Zheng Jing
* Zheng Qi
* Zheng Yi
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* Zheng Yi Sao

|

Pirate
hunters|

* Angelo Emo
* Chaloner Ogle
* David Porter
* Duarte Pacheco Pereira
* James Brooke
* Julius Caesar
* Jose Campuzano-Polanco
* Luis Fajardo
* Miguel Enríquez
* Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
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* Robert Maynard
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Pirate ships|

* Adventure Galley
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* York

Pirate battles and incidents|

* 1582 Cagayan battles
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* Action of 23 March 2010
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* Anti-piracy in the Aegean
* Antelope incident
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* Attack on Veracruz
* Balanguingui Expedition
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* Battle of Manila
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* Battle of Nam Quan
* Battle of New Orleans
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* Battle of Pianosa
* Battle of the Leotung
* Battle of the Tiger's Mouth
* Battle of Tonkin River
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* Battle of Tysami
* Beluga Nomination incident
* Blockade of Charleston (Vane)
* Chepo Expedition
* Capture of the Ambrose Light
* Capture of John Rackham
* Capture of the schooner Bravo
* Capture of the schooner Fancy
* Capture of the sloop Anne
* Carré d'As IV incident
* Dai Hong Dan incident
* Falklands Expedition
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* Maersk Alabama hijacking
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* MV Moscow University hijacking
* North Star affair
* Operation Enduring Freedom – HOA
* Operation Atalanta
* Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden
* Operation Dawn 8: Gulf of Aden
* Operation Ocean Shield
* Persian Gulf Campaign
* Pirate attacks in Borneo
* Quest incident
* Raid on Cartagena
* Sack of Baltimore
* Sack of Campeche
* Salvador Pirates
* Slave raid of Suðuroy
* Turkish Abductions

Piracy law|

* Acts of grace (1717–1718 Acts of Grace)
* International piracy law
* Letter of marque
* Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law
* Piracy Act (1536, 1698, 1717, 1721, 1837, 1850)
* Piracy Law of 1820

Slave trade|

* African slave trade
* African Slave Trade Patrol
* Amistad Incident
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* Blockade of Africa
* Capture of the Veloz Passagera
* Capture of the brig Brillante
* Indian Ocean slave trade
* Trans-Saharan slave trade

Pirates in
popular
culture|

| Fictional pirates|

* Askeladd
* Tom Ayrton
* Barbe Rouge
* Brook
* Captain Birdseye
* Captain Blood
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* Captain Flint
* Captain Hook
* Captain Nemo
* Captain Pugwash
* Captain Sabertooth
* Captain Stingaree
* Charlotte de Berry
* Davy Jones
* Edward Kenway
* Elaine Marley
* Elizabeth Swann
* Franky
* Guybrush Threepwood
* Hector Barbossa
* Jack Sparrow
* Jacquotte Delahaye
* Jimbei
* José Gaspar
* Joshamee Gibbs
* Long John Silver
* Monkey D. Luffy
* Vaas Montenegro
* Mr. Smee
* Nami
* Nico Robin
* Roronoa Zoro
* Sandokan
* Sanji
* Tony Tony Chopper
* Usopp
* Will Turner
* Yellowbeard
* Zanzibar

|

Novels|

* The Pirate
* The Pilot: A Tale of the Sea
* Treasure Island
* Facing the Flag
* On Stranger Tides
* Jim Hawkins and the Curse of Treasure Island
* Castaways of the Flying Dutchman
* The Angel's Command
* Voyage of Slaves
* Long John Silver
* Pirate Latitudes
* Mistress of the Seas
* Silver: Return to Treasure Island

Tropes|

* Buried treasure
* Davy Jones's locker
* Eyepatch
* Jolly Roger
* skull and crossbones
* Keelhauling
* Marooning
* No purchase, no pay
* Pegleg
* Pet parrot
* Pirate code
* Pirate utopia
* Treasure map
* Walking the plank

Miscellaneous|

* Air pirate
* Space pirate
* International Talk Like a Pirate Day
* Pirates versus Ninjas

Miscellaneous|

* A General History of the Pyrates
* Captain Charles Johnson
* Truce of Ratisbon
* Pirate Round

* Mutiny
* Matelotage
* Piracy kidnappings

Lists|

* Pirates
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* List of ships attacked by Somali pirates
* Timeline of piracy
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* Piracy portal
* Category

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