Ship robbery incidents in the Singapore Strait fell sharply in the second half of 2025 after arrests by the Indonesian Marine Police, though two or three groups remain active, reports UK's Seatrade Maritime News.

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre said there were 108 incidents in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore last year, with most occurring in the Singapore Strait, mainly in Indonesian waters of the eastbound lane. The number marked a 19-year high.

Nearly one incident every two days was recorded in the first half of 2025, four times higher than the previous year. Containerships were among the targets, accounting for 10 per cent of cases. Of the total, 94 incidents occurred between January and July.

Arrests in Batam in July and August led to a sharp decline, with only 14 incidents reported between August and December. Numbers rose again in November and December, with five incidents each month compared to one or two in earlier months.

Lee Min Yui, deputy director of ReCAAP, said the Indonesian Marine Police believe two or three groups remain active and are seeking industry help, including CCTV footage, to catch them. Indonesia is not a ReCAAP member but attended a forum with shipping representatives on January 9.

Across Asia, ReCAAP recorded 132 piracy and armed robbery incidents in 2025, up 23 per cent from 107 in 2024. Most were armed robberies in territorial waters, with only two piracy cases on the high seas. The rise was driven by incidents in the Straits, while fewer cases were reported at anchorages in Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines.