The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) has released its Q1 report for 2025, covering incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia from January to March, reports Safety4sea.
Area Of Concern
Maritime security incidents in Asia during January-March 2025:
Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS): Continued Occurrence of Incidents
A total of 36 incidents were reported in the SOMS during the period of January to March 2025. This alarmingly constitutes 84% of all reported incidents in Asia (36 out of 43). When compared to the same period in 2024, which saw only 11 incidents, there has been a significant increase in the overall number of incidents in the SOMS. This indicates a concerning trend in this vital shipping lane.
Sulu-Celebes Seas: Threat of Abduction of Crew for Ransom Remains
The situation regarding the abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas has shown continued improvement. No incidents of abduction were reported during January-March 2025, and the last such incident in the area occurred in January 2020.
Consequently, the threat level for abduction of crew for ransom in this region was downgraded to ‘Low’ in January 2025. However, it is crucial to note that despite this positive development, the threat remains. This is due to the continued presence of remnants of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the Sulu and Tawi-Tawi areas. Therefore, while the immediate risk is considered low, vigilance in this region is still advised.
Recommendations Given
To effectively address this issue, the littoral States are encouraged to foster greater cooperation and coordination. This includes joint patrols and the sharing of crucial information regarding incidents and the criminal groups involved. The ultimate goal of this collaboration should be the arrest and prosecution of the individuals responsible for these acts.
For vessels transiting the Straits of Singapore or any other areas of concern, the ReCAAP ISC strongly advises ship masters and crew to significantly heighten their vigilance and proactively implement the following preventative measures to deter boarding by perpetrators:
- Stay Informed: Regularly monitor the latest situation through the ReCAAP ISC Interactive Dashboard (Re-VAMP), paying particular attention to incident-prone areas within the SS. ReCAAP ISC reports provide detailed incident locations with precise latitude and longitude coordinates.
- Heed Official Guidance: Remain attentive to advisories and navigational broadcasts issued by the relevant authorities.
- Maximize Lookout Efforts: Increase vigilance and the number of lookouts for any suspicious small boats. This is particularly important for crew members onboard tug boats towing barges during daylight hours and for crew on larger ships during nighttime.
- Maintain Operational Security Systems: Ensure that CCTV systems and other security devices, including communication equipment, are fully operational to alert the ship’s crew and record the movements of any perpetrators.
- Secure the Vessel: Conduct regular rounds of the ship’s compartments and ensure that all relevant areas of the ship are locked before entering areas of concern. Specifically, all doors and hatches providing direct access to the bridge, accommodation, store rooms, steering gear compartment, and engine room should be closed and properly secured. All security-related actions should be meticulously recorded in the ship’s logbook.
- Maintain Communication: Establish and maintain regular communication with the shipping company, providing periodic updates and conducting daily communication checks.
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Source: Safety4sea
