The increase in piracy incidents in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) on November 2, 4, and 10, 2026, has raised serious concerns in the maritime community. These incidents occur at a time when the number of such incidents had significantly decreased over the past 10 months. In light of these developments, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP ISC) has warned the maritime community that the likelihood of more incidents is high.
Details of Piracy Incidents
Three piracy incidents have been reported in the eastern traffic separation scheme (TSS) in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. The first incident occurred on November 2 at 21:25, the second incident on November 4 at 23:35, and the third incident on November 10 at 02:40. All these incidents occurred approximately 3.2 nautical miles apart, with two of them involving bulk carriers and one occurring on a tanker.
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In one of these incidents, a crew member was injured, while no injuries were reported in the other two incidents. In terms of damages, two vessels reported theft of engine spare parts, while nothing was stolen from the second vessel.
Increased Concerns and Security Recommendations
With these three recent incidents, the total number of piracy incidents in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore has reached 28 since the beginning of 2026. The exact locations of these incidents are marked on a map available in relevant sources. ReCAAP ISC is deeply concerned about the increasing frequency of these incidents in SOMS and has urged coastal states to enhance patrolling and monitoring in their waters, respond swiftly to reported incidents, and strengthen cooperation and information sharing regarding incidents and criminal groups to apprehend the offenders.
Vessels are also advised to increase their vigilance and be cautious while transiting through the areas of concern, especially during dark hours. Additionally, it has been suggested that preventive measures such as installing surveillance cameras at potential boarding points be taken. Vessels are encouraged to report all incidents promptly to the nearest coastal state and their flag state and to identify the offending boats. Access to the interactive dashboard of ReCAAP ISC and the map and visual data panel of Re-VAMP has also been recommended for gathering key information and assisting in risk assessment and travel planning.
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