Over the past week, 4 March to 10 March, one incident of armed robbery (CAT 4) against ships in Asia was 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 the incident occurred onboard a barge towed by a tugboat while underway in the eastbound lane of the traffic separation scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait (SS) on March 7.
The incident took place approximately 6.1 nm off Tanjung Pergam, Indonesia at 2008 hrs. Three perpetrators were reported, not armed, with scrap metals stolen. No injuries were reported during the incident last week.
With the incident in Singapore Strait (SS), a total of 23 incidents were reported in Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) since January 2025.
Concerned with the increase and continued occurrence of incidents in SOMS, the ReCAAP ISC advises ships to exercise enhanced vigilance when transiting SOMS and the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in these areas.
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.
