Piracy & Armed Robbery Surge In Straits Of Malacca And Singapore To 19-Year High

Piracy and armed robbery incidents in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) rose sharply in 2025, reaching their highest level since 2007, according to the latest annual report issued by the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC).

ReCAAP recorded 108 incidents in the SOMS in 2025, a 74 per cent increase from the 62 incidents reported in 2024. This is the highest number of cases reported in the waterway over the past 19 years.

Across Asia, 132 piracy and armed robbery incidents were reported to ReCAAP between January and December 2025, marking a 23 per cent rise compared with 107 incidents in 2024. Of the total cases, 127 were actual incidents, while five were attempted attacks.

Although the number of incidents increased, ReCAAP assessed that the severity of cases declined in 2025. More than half of the actual incidents were classified under the lowest severity level, involving unarmed perpetrators and no injuries to crew.

No incidents were categorised under the highest severity level during the year, compared with two such cases in 2024.

Most of the incidents in the SOMS occurred on ships using the eastbound lane. Bulk carriers were the most affected vessels, accounting for 52 per cent of cases.

This was followed by tankers (23 per cent), tugboats towing barges (12 per cent), container ships (10 per cent) and general cargo vessels (3 per cent).

The incidents were mainly opportunistic thefts and usually took place at night between 8pm and 6am. In nearly half of the cases, nothing was stolen despite the vessels being boarded.

When items were taken, engine spares were the most commonly reported stolen items, followed by ship stores, unsecured equipment and crew members’ personal belongings.

ReCAAP indicated that the rise in incidents did not mean a higher threat to maritime trade passing through the SOMS. The centre linked the increase mainly to minor theft cases rather than serious attacks.

Earlier data had already shown a sharp rise in incidents during the first half of the year. Between January and June 2025, 80 sea robbery incidents were reported in the SOMS, almost four times higher than the same period in 2024.

However, the number of incidents fell in the second half of the year. A significant decline was recorded from August to December 2025, following arrests made by Indonesian authorities, including the Riau Islands Regional Police.

ReCAAP noted that CCTV footage provided by ships helped law enforcement identify and arrest suspects, showing the impact of effective enforcement.

Elsewhere in Asia, fewer incidents were reported in ports and anchorages in Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines compared with 2024, while India saw a small increase in cases.

The security situation in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah continued to improve. For the fifth year in a row, no crew abduction incidents were reported in the area.

In January 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard downgraded the threat level for crew abduction from “Moderate Low” to “Low”.

ReCAAP also addressed concerns about future cooperation after the United States announced its withdrawal from several international organisations, including ReCAAP.

The centre said it would continue its work without disruption, noting that it had been operating as a regional cooperation platform against piracy since 2006, well before the US joined as a contracting party in 2014.

Despite the record number of incidents in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore in 2025, ReCAAP maintained that strong enforcement actions and regional cooperation helped prevent serious attacks and kept the key shipping route largely safe.

Reference: Recaap

Source: Maritime Shipping News