Three ships were boarded in the eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait in Indonesian waters over a nine-day period, according to an alert from the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre.
The recent incidents break a relative lull in the region during the first ten months of the year, Seatrade Maritime News reported. The latest boardings push the yearly total to 28 incidents across the Singapore Strait.
“The ReCAAP ISC is deeply concerned about the increasing frequency of incidents within the SOMS,” the ReCAAP alert said, pointing to the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
All three vessels were targeted in Indonesian waters within 3.2 nautical miles of each other during the hours of darkness. The bulk carrier Star Calypso was boarded on Nov. 2 at 21:25 hours.
The bulker APJ Priti 2 was boarded next on Nov. 4 at 23:35 hours. The tanker Salsa followed as the third vessel, boarded on Nov. 10 at 02:32 hours.
Engine spares were stolen during two of the robberies, which remains a common target for criminals operating in the waterway.
Nothing was reported stolen during the boarding of the second vessel.
One crew member sustained injuries during the sequence of attacks, though officials did not specify which vessel was involved or the extent of the harm. No injuries were reported in the other two cases.
Indonesian Arrests Drove a Sharp Drop in Vessel Boardings
Vessel boardings in the straits increased earlier in the timeline. The region recorded 79 incidents in the first six months of the year, followed by another 11 in the first week of July. A series of arrests by the Indonesian Marine Police subsequently drove a sharp drop in incidents starting in mid-July.
🚨 INCIDENT ALERT! ⚓️ Three incidents of sea robbery were reported on board ships transiting the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) on 2, 4, and 10 November 2026. ⚓️ The first incident occurred on 2 November at… pic.twitter.com/s0wtzHjaaJ
Patrols and Vigilance Urged
“The ReCAAP ISC urges the littoral States to increase patrols/ 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,” the ReCAAP alert said.
Authorities also called for prompt responses to ship reports and stronger coordination to arrest the perpetrators.
Officials advised crews to intensify vigilance and maintain sharp lookouts while transiting the area, particularly during darkness. Ships should promptly report any suspicious activity to both coastal and flag states.
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