There were fewer attacks on ships in Asia this year. From January to September 2026, 50 cases of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported. In the same months of 2025, there were 120. This is a fall of 58%.
The figures come from the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC). ReCAAP is an agreement between governments to fight piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. It has 22 member states. The centre published the figures on 22 October 2026.
Big drop in the Singapore Strait
The biggest change was in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. These are the busy waters between Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. From January to September 2025, there were 97 cases there. In the same months of 2026, there were 23.
ReCAAP ISC also said there were fewer cases of pilferage at sea in India, Indonesia and Vietnam. Pilferage means stealing small things, such as ship stores or spare parts.
Meeting with shipping companies
On 22 October, ReCAAP ISC met with shipping companies and shipping associations. They talked about how to stop robbers from boarding ships.
The participants agreed that most boardings in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore can be prevented. For this, ships need strong security measures on board. They also said that patrols and action by police and coast guards help to keep the numbers low.
Senior Lieutenant Colonel Lester Yong spoke for the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) in Singapore. The IFC collects and shares information on security at sea. He said ships can help to bring robbers to court. They can do this by reporting incidents quickly and by giving evidence and witness statements to the police.
A security manager from Fleet Management Limited shared lessons from security incidents on bulk carriers. He spoke about how to protect a ship during passage and at anchor. A DNV expert spoke about cyber attacks on ship data and systems.
ReCAAP ISC's Executive Director, Vijay D Chafekar, said the threats keep changing. He said masters and crew must stay alert, follow preventive measures and "report incidents promptly".
These are figures for Asia only. For the worldwide picture, read our report on the IMB piracy report for January to September 2026.
What it means for crews
Fewer cases does not mean no risk. Robbers can still board ships, both at anchor and during passage.
Follow your ship's security plan in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. Keep a good lookout, light the deck well and lock doors to the accommodation and engine room.
If robbers come on board, follow your security plan. Raise the alarm, tell the bridge and keep yourself safe.
Report every incident or suspicious approach at once, also small thefts. Reports help the coastal state send patrols and catch the robbers.
Keep any evidence, such as CCTV video or photos, and tell your company. The police may ask the crew for statements.
Cover photo: Ships at anchor in the Singapore Strait at dusk, January 2015. Illustrative photo, not the ships in this story. Photo: Alexey Komarov/Wikimedia Commons (via Panoramio), CC BY 3.0 (cropped).
Sources: ReCAAP ISC: News release, ReCAAP ISC holds dialogue with shipping industry to discuss efforts and best practices to combat piracy and sea robbery in Asia (22 Oct 2026, PDF), Crewboard: IMB piracy report for January to September 2026.
