11 incidents of sea robbery took place in Singapore Strait, says regional agency

Singapore, Feb 4 (PTI): The Singapore Strait has witnessed a surge in sea robbery incidents, with eleven cases reported in just the first 34 days of 2025, a regional maritime security agency revealed on Monday.

According to the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP ISC), these incidents occurred between January 1 and February 3 in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) within the strait. The agency raised an alert for the maritime community regarding the rising frequency of such crimes in the region.

Pattern of Attacks and Stolen Goods​

All eleven reported incidents took place near Pulau Cula and Helen Mar Reef as ships transited through the Phillip Channel. Among them, four incidents occurred within brief intervals—two each in the early hours of January 26 and February 3, and two more during the night of January 28-29.


Of the 11 sea robbery cases:

• Seven involved the theft of engine spares
• Four resulted in no stolen goods

Additionally, perpetrators in four cases were armed with guns or gun-like objects, while five involved individuals wielding knives. Information on the remaining two incidents is unavailable.

In one attack, a chief engineer was restrained, with his hands tied, though no other crew members sustained injuries in the other incidents.

Steep Rise in Sea Robbery Cases​

The number of sea robbery incidents has nearly tripled compared to the same period last year. Between January 1 and February 3, 2024, only four incidents were reported, highlighting a sharp rise in maritime crime in the region.

Calls for Increased Security Measures​

Expressing concern over the escalating incidents, ReCAAP ISC has urged littoral states to take urgent action, including:

• Enhancing patrols and surveillance in affected waters
• Prompt responses to distress reports from ships
• Strengthening coordination and intelligence sharing to track down criminal groups

The agency also advised ship operators to heighten vigilance, especially during nighttime transits, and implement preventive security measures to mitigate risks.

As the Singapore Strait remains a critical global shipping route, authorities are expected to ramp up efforts to curb maritime crimes and safeguard vessels navigating these waters.