The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) today held a dialogue with representatives from the shipping industry and law enforcement agencies to discuss the latest situation of Armed Robbery Against Ships in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS). A total of 97 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in the SOMS from January to September 2025, an almost three fold increase compared to the 35 incidents reported in the same period last year. Notwithstanding, the number of incidents in the SOMS declined from an average of 13 incidents per month during January to July 2025, to two incidents in August 2025, one incident in September 2025, and one incident in October 2025.

ReCAAP ISC Executive Director, Mr Vijay D Chafekar, said, “The significant drop in the number of sea robbery incidents in the SOMS in the third quarter of 2025 can be attributed to the combination of sustained preventive measures by the shipping industry and deterrent law enforcement action by the Indonesian authorities. The arrest of the perpetrators in July 2025 served as a warning and deterrence to criminals planning to target merchant vessels transiting through SOMS. I would like to urge shipping companies to help sustain this good momentum, by heightening vigilance when your ships transit the areas of concern during hours of darkness. It is important to have robust preventive measures to deter unauthorised boarding.”

During the dialogue, shipping industry representatives shared their experience in dealing with challenges of navigational safety in the SOMS, as well as lessons learned from robbery incidents onboard their vessels. Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurer NorthStandard Limited outlined several types of insurance coverage for piracy and sea robbery incidents.

Head of South East Asia Pacific, NorthStandard, Mr Jack Marriott-Smalley, said, “Marine insurance premiums are influenced more by the value of goods stolen than the frequency of incidents. Since most of the incidents in the SOMS are petty thefts, there is no danger of the SOMS becoming a High-Risk Area”.

Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Information Fusion Centre (IFC) and the Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) also presented on regional cooperation efforts to deal with maritime security threats, and recommended measures to deter unauthorised boardings in the SOMS.
Source: ReCAAP ISC