In a significant achievement for maritime security, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) announced that 2024 saw no piracy incidents across Asian waters. This milestone was shared by ReCAAP ISC’s executive director, Krishnaswamy Natarajan, during a press conference in Manila on January 21, 2025. Natarajan highlighted the collaborative efforts of local governments and the commendable work of the Philippine Coast Guard in maintaining this safe environment.
Despite the absence of piracy, the Sulu-Celebes area and waters off Eastern Sabah continue to be classified as having a ‘moderate low’ threat of crew abductions, suggesting that while attacks are unlikely, the potential for minimal damage to vessels and crew remains. The ReCAAP ISC’s annual report also noted a slight increase in ship robberies, with 107 incidents reported in 2024, a 6% rise from the previous year. These incidents were spread across various regions, with the majority occurring in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, followed by Indonesia and Bangladesh.
In most cases, the vigilance of the crew and the presence of patrol vessels prevented perpetrators from boarding ships. While the majority of these incidents did not affect the crew, a small percentage involved crew members being tied up, threatened, or injured. The types of vessels most commonly targeted were bulk carriers, followed by tankers and tug boats towing barges or drill ships.