Over the past week, three incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia (two CAT 3 incidents and one CAT 4 incident) were reported to the ReCAAP ISC, says Safety4sea.
All incidents occurred onboard ships while underway off Pulau Cula, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait (SS). Of the three incidents, two occurred onboard bulk carriers on 22 Jan and 26 Jan 2025, and one occurred onboard a general cargo ship on 26 Jan 2025.
| Location | Type of Ship | Date/Time | Number of Perpetrators | Weapons | Treatment of Crew | Significance Level | Items Stolen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.8 nm west of Pulau Cula, Indonesia | Bulk carrier | 22 Jan 2025 at 0230 hrs | 5-6 | Gun-like objects & knives | No injuries | CAT 3 | Generator parts |
| 3.2 nm west of Pulau Cula, Indonesia | Bulk carrier | 26 Jan 2025 at 0135 hrs | 5 | Not stated | No injuries | CAT 4 | Nil |
| 2.7 nm west of Pulau Cula, Indonesia | General cargo ship | 26 Jan 2025 at 0215 hrs | 2 | Gun-like object | No injuries | CAT 3 | Engine spares |
Area of concern
With these three incidents in SS, a total of seven incidents were reported in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) onboard ships since January 2025. The ReCAAP ISC advises ships to exercise enhanced vigilance when transiting SOMS and the littoral states to increase patrols and enforcement in these areas.
Situation of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes seas and waters off eastern Sabah
Re-assessment and downgrading of threat level
The efforts by the Philippine Government in Zamboanga, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, through continuous military operations, led to the dismantling of the support base and neutralization of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the Sulu Archipelago. Against this backdrop, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in coordination with other stakeholders and counterparts involved in maritime security in the Sulu-Celebes Seas, reviewed the threat situation and recommended further downgrading the threat level of “abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas” from “MODERATE” to “MODERATE LOW.” This implies that incidents are unlikely to occur due to perpetrators’ perceived lack of capability to orchestrate an attack. Nevertheless, minimal damages are expected to vessels and crew in case of an attack.
Update of ReCAAP ISC advisory
- With the downgrading of the threat of abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas by the PCG, ReCAAP ISC has updated its advisory for ships to “exercise vigilance & adopt necessary preventive measures while transiting the area.”
- Ship masters and crew transiting the area are strongly encouraged to exercise extra vigilance and report all incidents immediately to the Operation Centres of the Philippines and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia.
Recommendations
Ship masters and crew are to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal state and flag state, referring to the Poster on the Contact Details for Reporting of Incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia. They should also exercise vigilance and adopt appropriate preventive measures based on the Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia, both produced by the ReCAAP ISC.
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Source: Safety4sea
