Over the past week, 13-19 May, three incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia were reported to the ReCAAP ISC.
Three incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia (one CAT 3 incident and two CAT 4 incidents) were reported to the ReCAAP ISC. All three incidents occurred onboard ships while underway off Pulau Cula, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of Singapore Strait (SS). The crew members were not injured in all three incidents. Some items were stolen in two incidents and nothing stolen in one incident. . Details of the incidents are shown in table bellow:
| Factors | Incident 1 | Incident 2 | Incident 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 10.1 nm off Pulau Cula, Indonesia | 5.4 nm off Pulau Cula, Indonesia | 4.9 nm off Pulau Cula, Indonesia |
| Type of ship | Tug boat and barge | Bulk carrier | Bulk carrier |
| Date/Time | 21 Apr 2025 at 0200 hrs | 14 May 2025 at 0227 hrs | 17 May 2025 at 0143 hrs |
| Number of perpetrators | Not known | 3 | 5 |
| Weapons | Not stated | Not stated | Knives |
| Treatment of crew | No injuries | No injuries | No injuries |
| Significance level | CAT 4 | CAT 4 | CAT 3 |
| Items stolen | Barge properties | Engine spares | Nil |
Area of concern
With the three incidents in SS, a total of 53 incidents were reported in SOMS 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 have led to the dismantling of the support base of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), increasing the likelihood of the group’s end through surrender, arrest, or neutralization. Against this backdrop, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in coordination with other stakeholders and counterparts involved in maritime security in the Sulu-Celebes Seas, re-assessed the threat level and recommended downgrading the threat level of “Abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas” from Moderate Low to Low, meaning:
“No information or monitored activities suggest an impending attack; hence, incidents are not expected to occur.”
Update of ReCAAP ISC advisory
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With the downgrading of the threat on the “Abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas,” ReCAAP ISC updated its advisory on 14 Feb 2025, recommending 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).”
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Ships are also advised to maintain communication with the relevant authorities when transiting the area.
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 exercise vigilance and adopt appropriate preventive measures, taking reference from the Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia, both produced by the ReCAAP ISC.
