Somali piracy resurgence: understanding the risk to commercial shipping

A hijacking off Somalia can have consequences far beyond the vessel seized. Captured ships can become motherships, extending pirates’ reach offshore and creating new exposure for vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin.

Dryad Global’s report, Maritime disruption in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin, 2025–26: piracy resurgence and the Houthi–Al-Shabaab–IRGC nexus, examines the forces behind the resurgence and the implications for commercial shipping.

Written by Joshua Harrison, Dryad Global Analyst, the report considers how Somali state weakness, competing demands on naval resources and changing shipping patterns are shaping the operating environment. It also assesses reported links between pirate groups, the Houthis, Al-Shabaab and Iranian weapons and logistics networks, examining the financial and strategic interests behind potential cooperation.

For owners, operators, charterers and underwriters, the consequences extend beyond an immediate attack. Hostage detention, ransom demands, vessel disruption and uncertainty around a voyage can create prolonged operational and commercial exposure.

The report brings together:

• An incident register detailing hijackings and reported outcomes.
• Regional maps showing piracy incidents, shipping routes and the wider security environment.
• Analysis of the drivers of renewed pirate activity.
• An outlook on the implications for maritime stakeholders.

Subscribe to Verihelm for the full report to understand the developing threat and inform your voyage planning and risk assessment.