Over the past week, 15-21 April, two CAT 3 incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia were reported to the ReCAAP ISC.
Both 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). The crew members were not injured, and nothing was stolen in both incidents. Details of the incidents are shown in the table below:
| Factors | Incident 1 | Incident 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Location | 5.6 nm off Pulau Cula, Indonesia Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) |
2.5 nm off Pulau Cula, Indonesia Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) |
| Type of ship | Container ship | Tanker |
| Date/Time | 20 Apr 2025 at 0500 hrs | 21 Apr 2025 at 0134 hrs |
| Number of perpetrators | 3 | 3 |
| Weapons | Gun-like object | Knives |
| Treatment of crew | No injuries | No injuries |
| Significance level | CAT 3 | CAT 3 |
| Items stolen | Nil | Nil |
Area of concern
With the two incidents in SS, a total of 41 incidents were reported in SOMS since January 2025. The ReCAAP ISC advises ships to exercise enhanced vigilance when transiting SOMS and the 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
The efforts by the Philippine Government in Zamboanga, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi through the conduct of continuous military operations led to the dismantling of the support base of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), and ensured 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 maritime security in the Sulu-Celebes Seas, re-assessed 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
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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 Feb 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).”
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Ships are also advised to maintain communication with the relevant authorities when transiting the area.
Recommendations
Ship masters and crew are to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal State and flag State, referring to the Poster on the Contact Details for Reporting of Incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia. They should exercise vigilance and adopt appropriate preventive measures, taking reference from the Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia, both produced by the ReCAAP ISC.
