Piracy & Maritime Security

Modern day pirates are organized criminal groups that attack ships for money. They steal cargo and crew belongings, kidnap seafarers or hold a whole ship for ransom. They use fast skiffs, firearms and ladders, not tall ships and cutlasses. The IMB recorded 137 piracy and armed robbery incidents in 2025, the highest in four years.…

RSO stands for Recognized Security Organization. What an RSO may and may not do under the ISPS Code, RSO vs RO, ISSC certification and security levels.

Pirates still exist: 137 attacks on ships in 2025, Somali hijackings again in 2026. Where modern pirates operate, how they attack and how ships defend.