An armed robbery from 21 to 27 May

TThe incident (CAT 4) occurred on board a barge towed by a tugboat in the South China Sea en route to the Singapore Strait. The crew was not injured, only scrap metal was stolen from the barge. The armed robbery of ships incident (CAT 2) occurred on board a bulk carrier while sailing in the Strait of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS). A tanker was held captive by the perpetrators in the wheel room and some engine spare parts were stolen.

Area of ​​interest

With the incident in SOMS, a total of 15 incidents have been reported in the area since January 2024. The ReCAAP ISC advises ships to exercise increased vigilance and lookout when transiting SOMS; and coastal States to increase patrols and surveillance in the area as well as in ports and anchorages.

Reassessment and downgrading of threat level

The efforts of the Philippine government in Zamboanga, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi through sustained military operations resulted in the destruction of the support base and neutralization of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the Sulu Archipelago. Against this backdrop, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in coordination with other actors and partners key to maritime security in the Sulu-Celebes Sea, reviewed the threat level and recommended that the threat level of “Kidnapping of a Crew Member for Ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Sea” be further downgraded from “MEDIUM” to “MEDIUM-LOW”, meaning that “incidents are unlikely as the perpetrators are assessed as not capable of orchestrating an attack. Nevertheless, in the event of an attack, minimal damage to the vessel and crew is expected.”

Update of the ReCAAP ISC notice

• In light of the PCG’s downgrading of the threat of “kidnapping of crew members for ransom in the waters of Sulu and Celebes”, the ReCAAP ISC has updated its recommendation for vessels to “exercise vigilance and take necessary preventive measures” when transiting the area.
• For vessels transiting the area, captains and crew are strongly advised to be particularly vigilant and to report any incidents immediately to
  the operations centres of the Philippines and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia.

recommendations

Masters and crew are required to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal and flag State, using the Contact Details for Reporting Incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia poster. They are also required to be vigilant and take appropriate preventive measures, using Regional Guidance Document 2 on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia as a guide.