The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has indeed published its Monthly Piracy Report for March 2025. According to SAFETY4SEA, the report indicates that there were twenty-four incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships reported by Member States or international organizations in consultative status during that month.
Multiple Incidents
In March 2025, Member States and international organizations reported twenty-four incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships. Here are some of the reported incidents:
Incident 1: The Duty crew onboard a ship underway noticed two small boats alongside and eight unauthorized persons stealing ropes. The master raised the alarm, increased speed, notified authorities, and non-essential crew gathered in the citadel. The Coast Guard instructed the vessel to head to Santa Marta for inspection. All crew members were safe.
- Location: Around 36nm NNW of Santa Marta, Colombia.
- Response: Reported to the Colombian Coast Guard, and the message was relayed to Colombian Maritime Authorities.
Incident 2: While underway, the master of a tug reported to Singapore POCC that three perpetrators boarded the barge it was towing from a small boat. After about 20 minutes, the perpetrators left. The crew found no loss of property and no injuries. A safety broadcast was initiated to warn other vessels in the Singapore Strait. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified, and the information was shared with the Indonesian authority.
- Location: At the approaches to the Singapore Strait, Malaysia.
- Response: Reported to Singapore POCC.
Incident 3: Five armed pirates boarded a fishing vessel. They fired three warning shots, ordered the crew to lie on the deck, stole mobile phones and property, and locked the crew in a cabin. Before escaping, the pirates damaged communication equipment and kidnapped three crew members. Upon exiting the cabin, the remaining crew sailed to Tema.
- Location: Around 12nm SE of Accra, Ghana.
- Response: Reported to local authorities. Ghana Incident report received from Ecowas MMCC Zone F.
Incident 4: Four masked robbers armed with a gun and knives boarded a tanker underway and entered the engine room. The duty engine crew alerted the bridge officer, who raised the alarm, mustered the crew, and notified VTIS. Upon hearing the alarm, the robbers escaped with stolen engine spares. After anchoring, the Coast Guard boarded the vessel for investigations.
- Location: Malacca Strait.
- Response: Reported to Singapore VTIS. Indonesia PRC relayed the message to Singapore Police Coast Guard & Indonesian Marine Police HQ.
Incident 5: Six robbers armed with guns boarded a tanker underway. They entered the engine room, took the Chief Engineer and 3rd Engineer hostage, and tied them up. Both engineers managed to escape and immediately informed the bridge. An alarm was raised, the ship’s horn sounded, and the crew mustered. Seeing the alerted crew, the robbers escaped empty-handed. The incident was reported to VTIS. All the crew were reported safe.
- Location: Malacca Strait.
- Response: Reported to Singapore VTIS. Singapore PRC relayed the message to Singapore Police Coast Guard & Indonesian Marine Police HQ.
Incident 6: Four armed robbers in a skiff approached and boarded a laden ship underway and entered the engine room. An alert duty oiler noticed the robbers, secured himself in the engine control room, and alerted the bridge. An alarm was raised, a PA announcement made, the SSAS activated, and VTIS West notified. After about one hour, a search was conducted by the crew. No robbers were found on board, and nothing was reported stolen. As a precaution, a patrol vessel escorted the ship to the anchorage area for inspection.
- Location: Malacca Strait.
- Response: Reported to VTIS West. Singapore PRC relayed the message to Singapore Police Coast Guard & Indonesian Marine Police HQ.
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Source: Safety4sea
