Seatrade Maritime | Asian maritime security in Q1 – Fewer boardings and sanctions enforcement

Indian Coast Guard ship at sea. Credit: Image by BellaNYork, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Senior Analyst at Risk Intelligence, Thomas Timlen, shared his insights in a recent Seatrade Maritime article, highlighting key maritime security developments across Asia during Q1 2026.

Published on 10 April 2026, the article outlines key developments in Asian maritime security during Q1 2026. A 40% decline in overall incidents was recorded across East, South, and Southeast Asia, driven by a sharp reduction in Singapore Strait boardings to 10 cases following Indonesian Marine Police patrols introduced in mid-2025. Activity in the Strait remained largely limited to theft and armed robbery, with isolated violent incidents still reported.

In the Indian Ocean, enforcement against smuggling and sanctions violations increased, including several high-profile interdictions of oil tankers linked to illicit trade networks. Labour unrest in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan disrupted port operations, while security risks persisted in parts of Pakistan. Diplomatic efforts on the South China Sea Code of Conduct continued despite ongoing maritime tensions.

Read the full article on Seatrade Maritime.


📌 For a look at trends over time, see the insights presented in the articles linked below:
- Seatrade Maritime | Asian maritime security in Q4 2025 - smuggling and ship boardings
- Seatrade Maritime | Asian maritime security in Q3 2025 - Singapore Strait vessel boardings nosedive
- Seatrade Maritime | Asian maritime security in Q2 2025 - Sharp rise of Singapore Strait boardings raise concerns
- Seatrade Maritime | Asian maritime security in Q3 2024 – hijacking returns and AIS spoofing

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