Positive trends in Asian Q1 maritime security statistics
Cargo ships, oil tankers and bulk carriers moored offshore along the Singapore Strait. Source: Alamy
14 April 2026
While sea patrols on the Singapore Strait have contributed towards a reduction in vessel boardings, armed perpetrators continue to pose a physical threat to the safety and welfare of seafarers.
By Thomas Timlen, Senior Analyst
The first quarter of 2026 saw a continuation of the benefits realised with the introduction of patrols by the Indonesian Marine Police (IMP) on the waters of the Singapore Strait in July 2025. Compared with the 37 vessel boardings reported during the first quarter of 2025, the 10 incidents reported in 2026 represent a 73% decrease.
It is also notable that all cargo ships boarded in 2026 have been in transit in the eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait Traffic Separation Scheme, all west of 103:40 East longitude. Of these, six were bulk carriers and one was an LPG tanker. The only boardings reported to the east of that longitude have involved barges transporting scrap metal. As the IMP patrols are deployed from Batam, it appears that the scope of the patrols does not reach beyond 103:40 East longitude.
While the reduction in the frequency of boardings is a positive development, the safety and welfare of seafarers remain at risk. Perpetrators plying these waters are known to be armed with knives and airsoft guns. Many also use the drug crystal methamphetamine before boarding the targeted ships. Use of this drug can cause erratic and violent behaviour. This could have been a factor in a recent incident during which a crew member suffered a knife wound to his head, for which he received medical attention onshore.
While a total of 19 boardings were reported during Q1, it is likely that many incidents are not reported, particularly those limited to the theft of ship supplies and equipment. The 9 incidents in Q1 that took place beyond the waters of the Singapore Strait involved ships off Bangladesh at the Kutubdia anchorage and off Cox Bazar, and the Philippines ports of Batangas and Manila: all thefts and armed robberies, with the exception of a failed kidnapping attempt that involved the crew of a fishing boat.
Regular updates of this activity are available from the Risk Intelligence system and in the Risk Intelligence Monthly Intelligence Reports, available by subscription.
Further reading:
Thomas Timlen also shares broader insights on Asian maritime security developments in a recent Seatrade Maritime article, covering trends across the Singapore Strait, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea. Read here.
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