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  2. Reducing the risk of piracy

Reducing the risk of piracy

Last Updated
Monday, 11/11/2019

Piracy is a major issue around the world. It impacts people travelling by boat in both coastal and international waters.

Explore this page to learn:

  • about piracy
  • high risk areas for piracy
  • how to reduce your risk of piracy
  • where to get help

This page is for Australians preparing to travel by boat. If you're already travelling and need help, see our advice on what to do if you are a victim of crime overseas.

What is piracy

Piracy takes many forms. It may include armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom or murder. It can also include crimes of opportunity, such as unlawful requests for payments for anchorage.

All forms of shipping are attractive targets for pirates. This includes commercial vessels, pleasure craft (such as yachts) and luxury cruise liners.

Learn more about the global threat of piracy (United Nations).

High risk areas for piracy

Whether you're travelling by commercial vessel or private yacht, you should be aware of the risk of piracy in parts of the world. In particular:

  • the Horn of Africa, including the Gulf of Aden and Yemen
  • the Gulf of Guinea
  • South East Asia
  • the South China Sea

If you need to pass through these waters, you should exercise extreme caution. Consider additional security arrangements, and have contingency plans in place.

If you're going on a cruise through a piracy prone area, ask the cruise company about their security measures. Find out about their policies and procedures in the event of a pirate attack.

For up to date information on pirate attacks, see the live piracy map. Also see more about piracy prone areas and warnings (International Maritime Bureau).

The Horn of Africa including the Gulf of Aden and Yemen

We strongly advise Australians to avoid travelling to the coastal waters of Somalia and Yemen in the Indian Ocean. These waters are extremely high-risk.

Pirates from this region have attacked shipping more than 1,500 nautical miles (2778 km) from the coast of Somalia. Pirates have attacked people sailing near:

  • the west coast of India
  • Western Maldives
  • Madagascar
  • Kenya
  • Tanzania
  • Mozambique
  • Madagascar
  • Seychelles

The Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHA) provides information for mariners in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. This includes advice for people on sailing vessels. Some services require registration.

The Gulf of Guinea

The Gulf of Guinea extends from Liberia to Gabon in West Africa. The growth of the oil and gas industry in the region has contributed to an increase of piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea since 2012.

Hijackings and cargo theft are a security concern for coastal West African States.

Southeast Asia

  • The Straits of Malacca
  • The Singapore Straits
  • Penang in Malaysia
  • Bintan in Indonesia
  • Phuket in Thailand
  • The coast of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia
  • The Sulu Sea between Palawan and Mindanao in the Philippines and Kalimantan in Indonesia

The South China Sea

  • Anambas, Natuna, Mangkai Islands and Subi Besar area
  • The Vung Tau area of Vietnam
  • several areas in Indonesia (namely Tanjung Priok - Jakarta/Dumai, Belawan, Taboneo, Muara Jawa)

Other piracy prone regions

  • East Africa, particularly Tanzania and Kenya.
  • South America, particularly Peru, Venezuela and Brazil.
  • the Caribbean and Central America, especially in anchorage areas in Port Au Prince, Haiti.
  • Bangladesh.

Reducing the risk of piracy

Research your destinations on and near your route

  • Before you go, read the travel advisories for all destinations near your route.
  • Subscribe for updates to our advice for these destinations.
  • Monitor piracy reports. Adjust your route if there's increased pirate activity on it.

Monitor news and broadcasts

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) runs a global 24-hour Piracy Reporting Centre. The IMB is a specialised division of the International Chamber of Commerce

The IMB:

  • issues daily piracy reports
  • broadcasts reports to all shipping on the Safety Net service of Inmarsat-C
  • publishes a live piracy map, included attempted attacks an suspicious vessels

The services of the centre are free. They're available to all ships, irrespective of their flag.

Learn more about the Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB).

Where to get help if you're a victim or witness of piracy

International Anti-Piracy helpline

The IMB has a 24-hour Maritime Security Hotline. Contact them to report piracy, or any suspicious activity you see at sea.

  • phone (60 3) 20310014
  • facsimile (60 3) 2078576
  • telex MA34199 IMBPCI

You can also email imbsecurity@icc-ccs.org.

Consular services

The Australian Government is limited in how and when it can help Australians overseas, and on the seas.

Pirates, like kidnappers or terrorists, are criminals. They're unlikely to respect the international laws that give you a right to consular assistance. This means they may not let you contact us.

If you can, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate. Or, contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305, SMS +61 421 269 080.

Understand our limits. Read the Consular Services Charter.

Read more

  • Read our travel advice for your planned destinations.
  • See our advice for travelling by boat.
  • Going on a cruise? Read our cruising page.
  • Find out what to do in the event of a tsunami.
  • See our advice about avoiding kidnapping.

See also

  • Find an Australian embassy or consulate (DFAT)
  • Learn more about the global threat of piracy (United Nations).
  • Read the travel insurance buying guide (CHOICE).
  • Learn more about piracy (Department of Infrastructure and Transport).
  • Learn about preventing piracy and armed robbery at sea (UK Government).
  • For up to date information on pirate attacks, see the live piracy map (International Chamber of Commerce).

Related content

Travelling by boat

This page will help you understand the risks and take appropriate precautions before you head out on the water.

View details
Going on a cruise

Before you go on a cruise, make sure you take steps to be prepared, and reduce your risks of things going wrong.

View details

Main navigation

  • The basics
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Was this information helpful?

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Emergency consular assistance

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

For how we can help you overseas see the Consular Services Charter.

Enquiries and feedback

For non-urgent enquiries, or to provide feedback on consular services that you've recently received, contact us online.

For information on notarial services, email legalisations.australia@dfat.gov.au

For information about Australian visas, contact the Department of Home Affairs.

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For more information go to about us.

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  • HomeHome
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Planning to travel during COVID-19: step by step
      • Destinations
      • Passport services
      • Visas
      • Insurance
      • Schengen
      • Travel advice explained
    • Who you are
      • Children
      • Dual nationals
      • LGBTI++
      • Mature
      • School leavers
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Adventure
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
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      • Religious events
      • Sporting events
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      • Infectious diseases
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medical tourism
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      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health
      • Vaccinations
      • Death
    • Staying safe
      • Armed conflict
      • Assault
      • Cyber security
      • Demonstrations
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
    • Laws
      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
    • Getting around
      • Air travel
      • Boat travel
      • Cruising
      • Public transport
      • Road safety
  • Destinations
    • View all destinations
    • AfricaBrowse destinations in Africa.
    • AmericasBrowse all destinations in the Americas.
    • AsiaBrowse all destinations in Asia.
    • EuropeBrowse all destinations in Europe.
    • Middle EastBrowse all destinations in the Middle East.
    • PacificBrowse all destinations in the Pacific.
  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Kidnapped
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Scammed
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Demonstration
      • Armed conflict
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Terrorist situation
      • Volcanic eruption
      • Bushfire
      • Nuclear incident
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
  • Urgent helpLinks to help
  • Our servicesLinks to services
    • Consular Services Charter
      • Arabic
      • Chinese Simplified
      • Chinese Traditional
      • Indonesian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Travel advice explained
    • Subscription
    • Crises
    • Passport services
    • Notarial services
      • Documents
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Voting overseas
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
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      • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
    • Resources
      • Consular State of Play
      • CHOICE travel insurance guide
      • Fact sheet: Travel Smart
      • Fact sheet: Missing overseas
      • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
      • Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas
      • Fact sheet: Death overseas
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement