The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published its Monthly Piracy Report for the month of January 2025.
The following acts of piracy and armed robbery are allegedly committed against ships during the month of January 2025, reported by IMO Member States or international organizations in consultative status:
#1 In territorial waters
- Name Withheld (Oil tanker, Saudi Arabia)
The incident: While underway in the Singapore Strait, engine room crew noticed footprints and discovered that auxiliary engine spare parts were missing during routine rounds.
Response: A PA announcement was made, and the crew was mustered to conduct a search. The Singapore PRC relayed the message to the Singapore Police Coast Guard.
Location: Malacca Strait – Singapore Straits, Singapore (01° 07.09′ N, 103° 43.09′ E)
- Anabela (Bulk carrier, Liberia)
The incident: While underway, four armed perpetrators with a gun were sighted in the engine room. The master raised the alarm and mustered the crew to conduct a search onboard. No perpetrators were found, and nothing was stolen. All crew members were accounted for, with no injuries reported.
Response: The master reported the incident to Singapore VTIS West, initiating a safety navigational broadcast. The Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) were notified. Upon the vessel’s arrival in Singapore, PCG boarded and searched the ship, but no perpetrators were found. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: Malacca Strait – Approximately 6 nm west of Pulau Cula, Indonesia (01° 03.95′ N, 103° 36.83′ E)
- Trinity Island (Bulk carrier, Hong Kong, China)
The incident: While underway, six perpetrators armed with knives were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was raised, and all crew members mustered at the bridge. A security search was carried out, but no perpetrators were found. Some engine spares were stolen. No crew members were injured.
Response: The master reported the incident to Singapore VTIS, prompting a safety navigational broadcast. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. Upon arrival in Singapore, PCG boarded and searched the ship, finding no perpetrators. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: Malacca Strait – Approximately 6.4 nm northeast of Pulau Cula, Indonesia (01° 08.10′ N, 103° 45.81′ E)
- Jolanda (Bulk carrier, Liberia)
The incident: While underway, the 2nd Engineer saw two perpetrators armed with gun-like objects in the engine room. The master raised the alarm, and the crew mustered to conduct a search. No perpetrators were found, nothing was stolen, and no injuries were reported.
Response: The master reported the incident to Singapore VTIS West. Safety broadcasts on anti-piracy watch were initiated, urging all ships in the Singapore Strait to remain vigilant. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: Malacca Strait – Approximately 2.96 nm north of Pulau Cula, Indonesia (01° 05.32′ N, 103° 43.25′ E)
- Golden Calvus (Bulk carrier, Marshall Islands)
The incident: While underway, six perpetrators armed with parangs were sighted in the engine room. The master raised the alarm, and all crew mustered to conduct a search. No perpetrators were found. The Chief Engineer’s hands were tied with rubber tubing, causing wrist pain. Some engine spares were stolen.
Response: The master reported the incident to Singapore VTIS. Safety broadcasts on anti-piracy watch were initiated. The RSN’s MSTF and Singapore PCG were notified. Upon arrival at anchorage, PCG boarded the vessel, but no perpetrators were found. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: Malacca Strait – Approximately 3.7 nm northwest of Batu Berhanti, Indonesia (01° 10.64′ N, 103° 49.31′ E)
- Delfin (Bulk carrier, Portugal)
The incident: While underway, five to six perpetrators armed with gun-like objects and knives were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was raised, and a search was conducted, but no perpetrators were found. All crew members were accounted for, with no injuries. Some generator parts were stolen.
Response: The incident was reported to Singapore VTIS West. A safety broadcast was initiated. The RSN and PCG were notified. Upon arrival at anchorage, PCG boarded the vessel and conducted a search, but no perpetrators were found. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: Malacca Strait – Approximately 6.8 nm west of Pulau Cula, Indonesia (01° 03.90′ N, 103° 36.70′ E)
- Shidai 9 (Bulk carrier, China)
The incident: While underway, five perpetrators were sighted on the poop deck. The alarm was raised, and all crew mustered to conduct a search. No perpetrators were found, and nothing was stolen. All crew members were accounted for, with no injuries.
Response: The incident was reported to Singapore VTIS West. A safety broadcast was initiated. The RSN and PCG were notified. Upon arrival at anchorage, PCG boarded the vessel and conducted a search, but no perpetrators were found. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: Malacca Strait – Approximately 3.2 nm west of Pulau Cula, Indonesia (01° 03.20′ N, 103° 39.70′ E)
- Asian Enterprise (General cargo ship, Saint Kitts and Nevis)
The incident: While underway, two perpetrators armed with a gun-like object were sighted on the poop deck. The general alarm was raised, and all crew mustered to conduct a search. No perpetrators were found. All crew members were accounted for, with no injuries. Some engine spares were stolen.
Response: The incident was reported to Singapore VTIS West. A safety broadcast was initiated. The RSN and PCG were notified. Upon arrival at anchorage, PCG boarded the vessel and conducted a search, but no perpetrators were found. Information was shared with Indonesian authorities.
Location: Malacca Strait – Approximately 2.7 nm west of Pulau Cula, Indonesia (01° 03.29′ N, 103° 40.20′ E)
- Bristol (Tanker, Greece)
The incident: While underway, duty crew noticed a wooden boat approaching. Three unauthorized individuals armed with long knives boarded using a hooked ladder. The alarm was raised, all lights were switched on, and the crew mustered. Upon noticing the alerted crew, the intruders escaped. A search was conducted, and nothing was reported missing.
Response: The incident was reported to VTIS Central. Indonesia PRC relayed the message to Singapore Police Coast Guard and Indonesian Marine Police HQ. Upon arrival, port police boarded the tanker and conducted an onsite check.
Location: Malacca Strait – Singapore Straits, Indonesia (01° 07.00′ N, 103° 44.59′ E)
- Nord Maverick (Product tanker, Marshall Islands)
The incident: While berthed, duty crew spotted four unauthorized persons onboard. Upon noticing the crew, the intruders escaped without stealing anything.
Response: The incident was reported to Port Authorities. Nigeria PRC relayed the message to NIMASA, MRCC Lagos, and Nigerian Navy HQ.
Location: Lagos Port, Nigeria (06° 26.10′ N, 003° 18.89′ E)
#2 In port area
- Nord Maverick (Product tanker, Marshall Islands)
The incident: While berthed, duty crew spotted four unauthorized persons onboard. Upon noticing the crew, the intruders escaped without stealing anything.
Response: The incident was reported to Port Authorities. Nigeria PRC relayed the message to NIMASA, MRCC Lagos, and Nigerian Navy HQ.
Location: Lagos Port, Nigeria (06° 26.10′ N, 003° 18.89′ E)
- Ceylon Breeze (Bulk carrier, Sri Lanka)
The incident: Eight robbers in a wooden boat, armed with knives and steel bars, boarded the vessel using hooks. They overpowered the duty AB, tied him up, and broke into the forecastle and paint lockers. Another duty crew spotted them and alerted the bridge. Alarm was raised, PA announcement made, and crew mustered. The robbers fled with stolen ship’s properties and stores.
Response: Port Control and the Bangladesh Navy were informed. Bangladesh PRC relayed the message to the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
Location: Payra Outer Anchorage, Bangladesh (21° 19.20′ N, 090° 04.28′ E)
- Ametrine Valor (Supply ship, Vanuatu)
The incident: A robber armed with a knife boarded the anchored vessel and stole a crew member’s mobile phone. Crew reported safe.
Response: Côte d’Ivoire PRC received the report from authorities.
Location: Abidjan Inner Anchorage, Ivory Coast (05° 16.21′ N, 004° 02.05′ W)
- Golden Curl (Chemical tanker, Singapore)
The incident: While at anchor, a crew member spotted two perpetrators near the accommodation area. The general alarm was sounded, and the intruders jumped onto a waiting boat. Ropes with hooks were used to board the ship. A search was conducted, and some unsecured items were stolen.
Response: The incident was reported to Belawan VTS. Singapore PRC relayed the message via ReCAAP.
Location: Belawan Anchorage Area No. 6, Indonesia (03° 55.79′ N, 098° 44.50′ E)
- Chinook (Bulk carrier, Panama)
The incident: Six robbers armed with hammers boarded the anchored vessel. Duty crew on rounds spotted them and alerted the bridge. Alarm was raised, and crew mustered. Seeing the crew’s alertness, the robbers escaped empty-handed.
Response: The incident was reported to Balikpapan VTS, which dispatched a patrol boat. Singapore PRC relayed the message to the Indonesian Marine Police HQ.
Location: Balikpapan Anchorage, Singapore (01° 21.89′ S, 116° 58.70′ E)
- Success (Tanker, India)
The incident: Duty AB on rounds spotted two unlit boats near the bow and an unauthorized person on the forecastle deck. Alarm was raised, ship’s horn sounded, and crew mustered. The intruder escaped with stolen ship’s stores.
Response: The incident was reported to Port Control. India PRC relayed the message to the Indian Coast Guard HQ and Coast Guard Chennai.
Location: OPL Kakinada, India (16° 54.54′ N, 082° 25.27′ E)
