Over the past week, 6-12 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 (two CAT 3 incidents and one CAT 4 incident) 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 the Singapore Strait (SS) on 7 May 2025. The crew members were not injured in all three incidents. Nothing was stolen in two incidents, and engine spares were stolen in one incident. Details of the incidents are shown in the table:
| Factors | Incident 1 | Incident 2 | Incident 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 2.2 nm off Pulau Cula, Indonesia | 7.9 nm off Pulau Cula, Indonesia | 8.9 nm off Pulau Cula, Indonesia |
| Type of ship | Bulk carrier | Chemical tanker | Bulk carrier |
| Date/Time | 7 May 2025 at 0245 hrs | 7 May 2025 at 0320 hrs | 7 May 2025 at 0403 hrs |
| Number of perpetrators | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Weapons | Knives | Not stated | Gun-like objects |
| Treatment of crew | No injuries | No injuries | No injuries |
| Significance level | CAT 3 | CAT 4 | CAT 3 |
| Items stolen | Nil | Nil | Engine spares |
Area of concern
With the three incidents in the SS, a total of 50 incidents were reported in SOMS since January 2025. Concerned with the increase and continued occurrence of incidents in SOMS, the ReCAAP ISC issued an Incident Alert on 7 May 2025 to alert the maritime community and warn of the possibility of further incidents. Ships are advised to intensify vigilance, maintain a sharp lookout while transiting the areas of concern, and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State. The Centre also urges the littoral States to increase patrols and surveillance in their respective waters, respond promptly to incidents reported by ships, strengthen coordination, and promote information sharing on incidents and criminal groups involved to arrest the perpetrators.
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 the conduct of continuous military operations—have led to the dismantling of the support base of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), ensuring the likelihood of the group’s end through surrender, arrest, and neutralization. Against this backdrop, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in coordination with other stakeholders and counterparts involved in the maritime security of the Sulu-Celebes Seas, re-assessed the threat level and recommended further downgrading of 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 February 2025 for 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).”
