ReCAAP has issued an alert for ships in the Singapore and Malacca Strait area due to a surge in sea robbery incidents. Six incidents in late March have led to increased caution in 2025. Perpetrators are becoming more daring, but no crewmember attacks have been reported. Vessels are urged to remain vigilant.
Seven Indian seafarers, including two engineers from Tamil Nadu, were kidnapped by pirates off the coast of Africa. The family members have appealed to the Union government for their rescue. The ship was attacked by heavily-armed pirates, and the crew activated the emergency alarm. The situation is critical, and immediate intervention is required.
Reports on March 16 revealed that a Yemeni fishing boat was hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Puntland. The vessel, with seven hijackers onboard, poses a threat to maritime security in the region. Operation Atalanta is actively monitoring the situation, emphasizing the persistent danger of piracy in the area.
The ReCAAP ISC, which monitors piracy and criminal activity against shipping in Asia, issued a new alert on February 3, reporting a significant increase in robberies in the Singapore Strait this year. There have been 11 incidents in just over a month, highlighting the continued occurrence of sea robberies onboard ships in the region.
Negotiations are ongoing between a local representative for a Chinese fishing vessel and tribal elders representing pirates who seized the boat off the coast of Somalia. The demand for the release of the crew members is now set at $10 million, with reports suggesting possible inside involvement in the incident. EU forces are investigating the situation.
EUNAVFOR Atalanta, the EU mission in the Horn of Africa, confirms armed pirates boarded a Chinese fishing vessel in Somali waters, classifying it as armed robbery at sea. With no injuries reported, Atalanta is monitoring the situation and collaborating with Somali and Chinese authorities to address the heightened piracy threats in the region.
A tugboat and barge crew were attacked by pirates near Tanjung Malatayur in Indonesia. The 14-member crew aboard the Royal TB 17 was robbed of cash, phones, radios, equipment, and cargo. Authorities are investigating the incident and providing support to the traumatized crew. Indonesian authorities are determined to apprehend the perpetrators.
A product tanker was robbed by armed pirates in the middle of the Atlantic, a rare occurrence outside of piracy hot zones. The crew was unharmed as the pirates took money and ship property before fleeing. The incident, 363 nautical miles south-southwest of the Cape Verde islands, is being investigated by officials.
The International Maritime Bureau reports a slight increase in piracy incidents in 2023, with 70% occurring in five hotspots. Concerns include crew safety, successful boardings, late reporting, and under-reporting. The Gulf of Guinea, Southeast Asia, and South America are identified as areas of concern, prompting a call for improved safety protocols.
