ReCAAP ISC

The annual ReCAAP ISC 20th Governing Council Meeting commenced today in Singapore. The Meeting was attended by Governors and Governors’ representatives from 19 ReCAAP Member States. During the meeting, the Governors of the Contracting Parties were updated on ReCAAP ISC’s activities in FY2025, its work plan for FY2026 and beyond, as well as the Centre’s external engagements. Deliberations centred on the strategic direction of the Centre and how it can better position itself to address emerging challenges and meet the needs of maritime stakeholders. Governors play an important role in helping ReCAAP ISC carry out its mandate, offering guidance to improve the Centre’s operations and charting the way forward of @recaapisc in the next decade. The Governing Council Meeting deepens collaboration among ReCAAP Member States and offers a forum for Governors to discuss the latest piracy and sea robbery situation in Asia, and the evolving maritime security environment. @AusBorderForce @IndiaCoastGuard @JCG_koho @mofkorea @Kustwacht_nl @Sjofartsdir @coastguardph @MPA_Singapore @srilanka_navy @prroyalthainavy @hkpoliceforce #ReCAAPISC #ContractingParty #Governing #Council #20GC #maritime #shipping #safetyatsea #reporting #searobbery #piracy #Conference #convene #maritimesecurity #Governors #Governance #GoverningOfficers

From 17 - 23 March 2026, Three incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia were reported to the ReCAAP ISC. ⚓️ All three incidents (Two CAT 3 incidents and one CAT 4 incident) occurred onboard bulk carriers while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in Singapore Strait (SS). One crew member was slightly injured in the head in one incident, and no injuries reported in the other two incidents. 🚨 With the three incidents in SS, a total of 10 incidents were reported in SOMS since January 2026. The ReCAAP ISC has issued an Incident Alert on 19 Mar 2026 to alert the maritime community and warn a possibility of further incidents. 🚨Ships are advised to intensify vigilance and maintain sharp look-out while transiting the areas of concern and report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State. The Centre also urges the littoral States to increase patrols/surveillance in their respective waters, respond promptly to incidents reported, strengthen coordination and promote information sharing on incidents and the criminal groups involved in order to arrest the perpetrators. Full report - shorturl.at/l1nIc #ReCAAPISC #maritime #piracy #shipping #searobbery #maritimesecurity

Since 2006, the ReCAAP ISC has evolved from collating and disseminating incidents on piracy and sea robbery, to sharing data-driven insights and trends on piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. Along the way, @recaapisc has established a trusted information sharing network used by Contracting Parties and the shipping industry, and strengthen member states’ capacity to combat sea robbery in their ports, anchorages, and territorial waters. As ReCAAP marks its 20th anniversary this year, Eric Ang and De Xian Chong from the @RSIS_NTU look back on ReCAAP ISC’s achievements, and reflect on how Asia’s only piracy focused regional treaty continues to provide a neutral platform for multilateral cooperation amidst a complex geopolitical environment. @safety4sea Read the full commentary: safety4sea.com/recaap-at-20-w… #ReCAAPISC #commentary #20anniversary #maritime #shipping #piracy #searobbery #maritimesecurity

🔔 INCIDENT ALERT! ⚓️Three incidents of sea robbery were reported on ships while transiting the Phillip Channel, in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait (SS) on 18 March and 19 March 2026. ⚓️The ReCAAP ISC urges the littoral States to increase patrols/ surveillance in their respective waters, respond promptly to incidents reported by ships, strengthen coordination and promote information sharing on incidents and criminal groups involved to arrest the perpetrators. ⚓️Ships are advised to intensify vigilance and maintain sharp look-out while transiting the areas of concern, particularly during hours of darkness, adopt preventive measures, including CCTV coverage at potential boarding places onboard as recommended in the Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia. Full Report - shorturl.at/fwOUN #ReCAAPISC #maritime #shipping #piracy #searobbery #maritimesecurity

ReCAAP ISC hosted a visit by Commander NIWA Hideaki, Chief of the 52nd Somalia Dispatched Investigation Team of Japan Coast Guard, and Commander TAKAURA Yasuhiro, Executive Officer of the Japan Self-Defence Force destroyer OHNAMI. Briefed the commanders on ReCAAP ISC’s efforts to enhance regional cooperation, information sharing and capacity building to reduce incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. ReCAAP ISC Executive Director, Mr Vijay D Chafekar, expressed appreciation to the commanders for Japan’s contribution to the anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden. He also wished OHNAMI a safe voyage back to Japan. @JCG_koho #ReCAAPISC #maritime #piracy #shipping #searobbery #maritimesecurity

From 10-16 Mar 2026, no incident of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia was reported to the ReCAAP ISC. The ReCAAP ISC advises ships to continue to intensify vigilance, maintain a sharp look-out while anchoring or transiting areas of concern, including the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and report all incidents to the law enforcement agencies immediately; and the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in these areas. #ReCAAPISC #maritime #piracy #shipping #searobbery #maritimesecurity

Governors and Governor’s representatives from 19 ReCAAP Contracting Parties, and External Participants from 15 partner organisations (from international organisations, shipping associations, academia and maritime stakeholders) and two States participated in the Open Session of the 20th Governing Council Meeting. Participants were briefed on ReCAAP ISC’s key activities in 2025 and shared the latest situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia and other regions. The partner organisations acknowledged the Centre’s persistent efforts in making seas in Asia safe and secure. Discussions also focused on measures to reduce incidents in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), including strengthening vigilance, enhancing information sharing, and reinforcing coordinated responses among relevant authorities and maritime stakeholders. @AusBorderForce @IndiaCoastGuard @JCG_koho @mofkorea @Kustwacht_nl @Sjofartsdir @coastguardph @MPA_Singapore @srilanka_navy @prroyalthainavy @hkpoliceforce @FranceinSG @EUinSingapore @UNODC_MCP @shippingics @nmfindia @RSIS_NTU #ReCAAPISC #ReCAAPContractingParties #organisations #externalparticipants #GoverningCouncilMeeting #20GC #searobbery #maritime #safetyatsea #shipping #piracy

From 3 - 9 March 2026, Two incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia were reported to the ReCAAP ISC. ⚓️ Both incidents (One CAT 3 and one CAT 4 incident) occurred onboard ships while they were underway off Pulau Cula, Indonesia in the eastbound lane of traffic separation scheme (TSS) of Singapore Strait (SS), Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS). The CAT 4 incident occurred onboard a bulk carrier on 28 Feb 2026, while the CAT 3 incident occurred onboard an LPG tanker on 7 Mar 2026. 🚨 With the two incidents in SS, a total of seven incidents were reported in SOMS since January 2026. The ReCAAP ISC advises ships to continue to exercise vigilance and maintain a sharp look-out when transiting SOMS; and the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in these areas. Full report - shorturl.at/xoaRN #ReCAAPISC #maritime #piracy #shipping #searobbery #maritimesecurity

🎉 Join Us – ReCAAP 20th Anniversary Celebration and Symposium Commemorating two decades of regional cooperation & partnership for safer seas in Asia, the ReCAAP 20th Anniversary Celebration and Symposium will be held on Friday, 13 March 2026 at Paradox Singapore Hotel. The event will commence with Welcome Remarks by Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan and will feature a distinguished line-up of speakers, including: ⚓️Mr Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law & Ministry of Transport, Republic of Singapore ⚓️Mr Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General, @IMOHQ ⚓️Mr Vijay D Chafekar, Executive Director, @recaapisc The celebration will acknowledge ReCAAP ISC’s contributions to the maritime community, and collaboration with ReCAAP member states, the shipping community, law enforcement agencies and regional/international organisations to suppress piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia over the past two decades. Under the theme “Adapting to evolving maritime security challenges”, the symposium will feature panel discussions on “Addressing emerging maritime threats and the future of ReCAAP” and “Multi-faceted approach to combating piracy and other maritime crimes”. Expert panellists include representatives from @Interpol, @intertanko, IFC-IOR, the Royal Navy and @UNODC_MCP. @WMUHQ 🎥 Join us via live stream on 13 March 2026: us02web.zoom.us/j/88089492588 Be part of this milestone event as we celebrate 20 years of partnership and collaboration for safer seas.

ReCAAP ISC’s Senior Assistant Director (Research), Ms Wan Fei Fei, delivered a lecture on ReCAAP’s role and Trends of Asian Piracy to students of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) Maritime Safety & Security Policy Programme yesterday. The students were briefed on the latest situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia, ReCAAP ISC’s efforts to enhance info sharing and inter-agency cooperation, and efforts by law enforcement agencies to arrest perpetrators who board ships illegally to steal engine spares and scrap metal. The lecture, co-organised by GRIPS and the Japan Coast Guard, provided an opportunity for participants to gain a deeper understanding of how close collaboration between maritime stakeholders contribute to safer seas in Asia. @JCG_koho @GRIPS_English #ReCAAPISC #maritime #piracy #shipping #searobbery #maritimesecurity

From 24 February - 2 March 2026, One CAT 2 incident and one CAT 4 incident of armed robbery against ships in Asia were reported to the ReCAAP ISC. ⚓️ The CAT 4 incident occurred onboard a container ship at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) Anchorage area in Philippines on 20 Feb 2026. The CAT 2 incident occurred onboard a bulk carrier while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in Singapore Strait (SS) on 27 Feb 2026. 🚨 The ReCAAP ISC advises ships to continue to intensify vigilance, maintain a sharp look-out while anchoring and transiting areas of concern and report all incidents to the law enforcement agencies immediately; and the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in these areas. Full report - shorturl.at/zPC44 #ReCAAPISC #maritime #piracy #shipping #searobbery #maritimesecurity

From 16 - 23 February 2026, no incident of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia was reported to the ReCAAP ISC. ⚓️ The ReCAAP ISC advises ships to continue to intensify vigilance, maintain a sharp look-out while anchoring or transiting areas of concern, including the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and report all incidents to the law enforcement agencies immediately; and the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in these areas. Full report 👉🏼 shorturl.at/qKtmz #ReCAAPISC #maritime #shipping #piracy #searobbery #maritimesecurity

ReCAAP ISC extends our greetings to all for a healthy and prosperous Chinese New Year 2026. May the Year of the Fire Horse bring progress, resilience and collaboration among all in the maritime community. Happy Chinese New Year! 🍊 #ReCAAPISC #newyear #cny #maritime #piracy #shipping #searobbery #maritimesecurity