Recently, a piracy incident occurred in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait, approximately 3 nautical miles off Pulau Nongsa, Indonesia. While no crew members were harmed, the theft of scrap metals underscores the ongoing threat of petty theft and robbery in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS).
Incident Overview
A tug boat towing a barge was targeted by 10 perpetrators who were unarmed. The robbers boarded the barge while it was underway and stole scrap metals. The event was classified as a Category 4 (CAT 4) incident, the lowest significance level, as there were no weapons involved and no harm to the crew.
Since January 2025, a total of 95 incidents have been reported in SOMS, making it a persistent hotspot for maritime crime. The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP ISC) has urged ship operators to maintain enhanced vigilance in the area and for littoral States to step up patrols and enforcement efforts.
Regional Security Situation
While piracy remains a concern in SOMS, the situation in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah has improved. For the fifth consecutive year, there have been no reports of crew abduction incidents, with the last recorded case on 17 January 2020. In January 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard downgraded the threat level to “LOW,” indicating no current signs of an impending attack.
ReCAAP continues to advise ships transiting through these areas to maintain vigilance, report suspicious activities to relevant authorities, and follow preventive measures outlined in the Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia.
The latest incident in the Singapore Strait highlights that, despite improvements in some regions, piracy and armed robbery remain persistent challenges in Southeast Asia’s key shipping lanes. Continuous vigilance, coordinated patrols, and strict adherence to security guidelines are vital for safeguarding crew, cargo, and vessels in these waters.
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Source: SAFETY4SEA
