Highest number of incidents recorded in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore since 2007.
The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) issued its 2025 annual report on piracy
and armed robbery against ships in Asia today at the 17th Nautical Forum held in
Singapore. The forum was attended by over 120 participants from shipping
companies, shipping associations, government and law enforcement agencies,
diplomatic missions and academia.
The key highlights of the annual report, covering the period of January to December 2025, are as follows:
Situation of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia – 2025
- A total of 132 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia were
reported to ReCAAP ISC from January to December 2025. This marks a 23%
increase over the 107 incidents reported in 2024. Of the 132 incidents recorded,
127 were actual incidents and five were attempted incidents. - The Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) continues to be an area of
concern, with 108 sea robbery incidents reported in 2025. This is the highest
number of incidents recorded in the SOMS during the 19-year period from 2007
to 2025. - Fewer incidents were reported in ports and anchorages in Bangladesh,
Indonesia and Philippines in 2025 compared to 2024. Marginal increase in the
number of incidents in India’s anchorages. - The incidents in Asia in 2025 were of lower severity compared to 2024. Of the
127 actual incidents in 2025, 53% were classified as CAT 4 (lowest severity), where the perpetrators were not reported to have carried any weapon and the
crew were not injured. In comparison, 44% of the actual incidents in 2024 were
CAT 4. In addition, there were no CAT 1 incidents (highest severity) reported in
2025, compared to two CAT 1 incidents in 2024. Please refer to Annex A for
ReCAAP ISC’s methodology in classifying incidents. - For the 5th consecutive year, there has been no report of incident of abduction
of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah. The last
incident occurred on 17 January 2020. In January 2025, the Philippine Coast
Guard downgraded the threat level of ‘Abduction of crew for ransom in the SuluCelebes Seas’ from “Moderate Low” to “Low” meaning ‘No information or
monitored activities suggest an impending attack; hence incidents are not
expected to occur’.
Area of Concern – Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) - A total of 108 incidents (104 actual and four attempted) were reported in the
busy and narrow waterways of the SOMS in 2025. This is a 74% increase over
the 62 incidents reported in the SOMS in 2024. The incidents were mostly
opportunistic theft committed during hours of darkness between 8pm and 6am.
In the majority of incidents, the crew was not injured. - Approximately 87% of the incidents in the SOMS in 2025 occurred in the first
seven months of the year (January to July). There was a significant decline in
the number of incidents in the SOMS from August to December 2025, following
the arrests of perpetrators by the Indonesian authorities in July and August
2025, with evidence from the CCTV footages. Please refer to the chart below
for detailed statistics. - In about half the incidents reported in the SOMS, nothing was stolen. The
remaining incidents reported stolen items such as engine spares, scrap metal,
unsecured items, ship stores and personal belongings of crew. - Over half of the incidents in the SOMS occurred onboard bulk carriers (52%),
with the remaining incidents occurring onboard tankers (23%), container ships
(10%), tug boats towing barges (12%) and general cargo ships (3%).
“The sharp increase in number of incidents in the SOMS in 2025 does not indicate a
corresponding increase in threat to maritime trade passing through the SOMS. The
higher number of incidents largely corresponds to minor petty theft cases. In fact, there
were no severe CAT 1 incidents in the SOMS in 2025,” said ReCAAP ISC Executive
Director, Mr Vijay D Chafekar.
“While the increase in sea robbery incidents in the SOMS highlights the continuing
security challenges faced by ships transiting the busy waterway, the decline in
incidents following the arrest of perpetrators by the Riau Islands Regional Police
illustrates the deterrent effect of effective enforcement. To help reduce the number of
incidents, the ReCAAP ISC would like to urge shipping companies to report all
incidents of theft and unauthorised boarding to the nearest costal state authority.
Where possible, shipping industry should provide CCTV footage of perpetrators as
evidence when making incident reports, so as to assist law enforcement agencies to
swiftly arrest and prosecute the suspects,” he added.
About ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC)
The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery
against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) is the first regional government-to-government
agreement to promote and enhance cooperation against piracy and armed robbery
against ships in Asia. The Agreement entered into force on September 4, 2006 with
14 Asian countries as Contracting Parties, and the Information Sharing Centre was
established on November 29, 2006. To date, 21 States (14 Asian countries, 5
European countries, Australia, the USA) have become Contracting Parties to
ReCAAP. To fulfil its vision as the Information Hub for combating piracy and armed
robbery against ships in Asia, ReCAAP ISC enhances regional cooperation through
information sharing, capacity building and cooperative arrangements. At the 12th
Governing Council Meeting in 2018, the Council announced that ReCAAP ISC has
met the criteria to be a Centre of Excellence for information sharing in combating piracy
and armed robbery at sea. For more information about ReCAAP ISC, please visit here.
