The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published its Monthly Piracy and Armed Robbery Report for July 2026.
According to the report, incidents involving piracy and armed robbery were reported in the Gulf of Aden, Malacca Strait and Indonesian waters during July 2026. The reported cases included the hijacking of a tanker with 22 crew members taken hostage, an attempted pirate attack involving gunfire, suspected pirate boarding, and theft of engine spares.
The reported incidents are the following:
- Golden Arsenal (Bulk carrier, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
The incident: While underway in the Gulf of Aden, the duty crew noticed a skiff with armed pirates approaching. The master stopped the vessel, activated the distress alert, switched on the AIS and instructed all crew to retreat to the citadel. After some time, the crew exited the citadel but noticed that the boarding ladders remained rigged to the ship’s side and returned to the citadel as a precaution. The master’s assessment indicated that four pirates had boarded the vessel and subsequently departed. All crew were reported safe.
Response: The incident was reported to MSCIO and UKMTO. Authorities were monitoring the vessel.
Location: Gulf of Aden, Yemen, 12° 47.00′ N 048° 02.00′ E.
- Name Withheld (Product tanker, United Republic of Tanzania)
The incident: While underway in the Gulf of Aden, a tanker was boarded and hijacked by pirates. The vessel appeared to be sailing towards Somalia. Pirates took 22 crew members hostage and hijacked the tanker.
Response: Authorities were investigating and monitoring the tanker. The incident was reported to MSCIO and UKMTO.
Location: Gulf of Aden, Yemen, 13° 36.80′ N 048° 35.00′ E.
- PM Crown (Product tanker, Singapore)
The incident: Unnoticed, robbers boarded a tanker underway and escaped with stolen engine spares. The incident was reported to the authorities. All crew reported safe.
Response: The incident was reported to VTIS.
Location: Malacca Strait, Singapore Straits, Singapore, 01° 11.80′ N 103° 25.10′ E.
- Columbia River (Bulk carrier, Hong Kong, China)
The incident: Duty crew onboard an anchored ship noticed ropes and a hook on the quarter deck, as well as two unauthorized persons in the engine room. The alarm was raised, prompting the unauthorized persons to escape with stolen engine spares.
Response: The incident was reported to Jakarta VTS and the local agent.
Location: Malacca Strait, Jakarta Anchorage, Indonesia, 06° 01.00′ S 106° 55.50′ E.
- Lady Naeima (Bulk carrier, Palau)
The incident: Armed pirates in a skiff approached and fired upon the vessel while it was underway. The onboard armed security team returned fire, causing the skiff to move away and proceed towards a suspected mothership. The vessel and crew were reported safe.
Response: The incident was reported to the authorities.
Location: Indian Ocean, around 25 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, Red Sea, Yemen, 14° 24.00′ N 042° 44.00′ E.
Robban Assafina is now on WhatsApp channel. Click Here
