Over the past week, 25 February to 3 March, five incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia (four CAT 3 incidents and one CAT 4 incident) were reported to the ReCAAP ISC.
To remind, CAT (category) 3 incident is classified as “less significant” in nature, whilst CAT (category) 4 incident is classified as “least significant” in nature.
The ReCAAP ISC, known as the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), said that all incidents occurred onboard ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the traffic separation scheme of the Singapore Strait (SS).
A crew member was injured in one of the incidents. Two incidents were reported with engine spares missing, nothing stolen in the other three incidents.
With the five incidents in Singapore Strait, a total of 22 incidents were reported in Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) during 1 January to 3 March 2025, compared to six incidents during the same period in 2024.
Concerned with the increase and continued occurrence of incidents in SOMS, the ReCAAP ISC issued an incident alert on February 28, to alert the maritime community and warns a possibility of further incidents.
Ships are advised to intensify vigilance and maintain sharp look-out while transiting the areas of concern, and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State, as reflected in the poster on guidelines and reporting of incidents by vessels – SOMS.
The Centre also urges the littoral States to increase patrols/surveillance in their respective waters, respond promptly to incidents reported by ships, strengthen coordination and promote information sharing on incidents and criminal groups involved to arrest the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, ReCAAP ISC updated its advisory on February 14 for ships to “exercise vigilance when transiting the Sulu-Celebes Seas and report incidents to the Operation Centres of the Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM)”.
Ships are also advised to maintain communication with the relevant authorities when transiting the area.
