Over the past week, 5-11 August, one CAT 4 incident of armed robbery against ships in Asia was reported to the ReCAAP ISC. The incident occurred onboard a tug boat towing a barge while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait (SS). The crew members were not injured but some scrap metals were stolen from the barge, according to 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 the 10 perpetrators were not armed.
With the incident reported in Singapore Strait (SS), a total of 95 incidents were reported in SOMS since January 2025.
Concerned with the increase and continued occurrence of incidents, ReCAAP ISC advises ships to continue to exercise enhanced vigilance when transiting SOMS and the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in these areas.
For a 5th consecutive year, there has been no report of incident of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah. The last incident occurred on 17 Jan 2020.
The ReCAAP ISC, in its advisory on February 14, advised 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.
