A surge in armed robberies continues to plague the Singapore Strait, with four new incidents reported over the past week to the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).
The latest wave of attacks highlights a growing security concern in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, bordered by Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. According to ReCAAP’s weekly report covering the period from April 29 to May 5, all four incidents occurred during nighttime hours in the eastbound lane of the traffic separation scheme near Pulau Cula.
The targeted vessels included the general cargo ship Perias on April 29, the chemical tanker SMA and another tanker Culture on May 2, and the bulk carrier SW Legend on May 5. While engine spares were stolen from the SMA, no items were reported stolen from the Culture and SW Legend. The attempted robbery aboard the Perias did not result in any losses.
These latest incidents bring the total number of reported armed robberies in the Singapore and Malacca Straits to 47 since the beginning of 2025.
ReCAAP has reiterated its call for stronger enforcement by the surrounding littoral states and has urged shipowners and operators to heighten vigilance when transiting the region.
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