Piracy and armed theft rise in Malacca and Singapore waters – research reveals | Singapore

Piracy and armed robbery cases have risen sharply in the Malacca Strait and Singapore, with a nearly fourfold increase in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, according to data from ReCAAP’s Information Sharing Centre (ISC). The ISC reported 80 such incidents this year, up from 21 in the same period last year.

The Malacca Strait, which is vital for global trade, links Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia and acts as a significant maritime channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, via the South China Sea.

The majority of these incidents occurred in the Phillip Channel, a part of the Singapore Strait where the narrowness forces ships to reduce speed, making them more vulnerable. Most thefts were not confrontational and involved no harm to the crews.

According to the National Bureau of Asian Research, this strait is a significant “chokepoint” for global trade, with about 90,000 merchant vessels passing through annually.

There have been no Category 1 incidents this year (involving firearms or hostage-taking), and 90% resulted in no injuries. The most frequently targeted ships were bulk carriers, followed by tankers and container vessels.

Several factors may be behind the increase, including disrupted trade routes in the Red Sea, which is increasingly a target for attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The rise could also be due to organized crime groups becoming more sophisticated in breaching ship security.