Over the past week, 11-17 March, four incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia (one CAT 3 incident and three CAT 4 incidents) were reported to the ReCAAP ISC.
One incident occurred on board a general cargo ship while berthed at the port of Jakarta, Indonesia, and three incidents occurred onboard ships while underway in the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait (SS). The crew was not injured in any of the four incidents. Two incidents involved the theft of scrap metal from barges, one incident reported missing generator spare parts, and nothing was stolen in the other incident.
Area of concern
With the three incidents in SS, a total of 26 incidents have been reported in SOMS since January 2025. The ReCAAP ISC advises ships to exercise enhanced vigilance when transiting SOMS and urges 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
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, and neutralization. In response, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in coordination with other stakeholders and counterparts involved in maritime security in the Sulu-Celebes Seas, has reassessed the threat level and recommended further 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
- With the downgrading of the threat on ‘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).”
- Ships are also advised to maintain communication with the relevant authorities when transiting the area.
