Robbers boarded two bulk carriers in the Singapore Strait in early November 2026. Both ships were sailing in the eastbound lane at night. The cases are on the 2026 incident list of ReCAAP ISC. ReCAAP ISC is the regional centre that tracks piracy and ship robbery in Asia.
On one ship, the robbers tied up a crew member with ropes. He had a minor hand injury. All crew on both ships are accounted for.
What happened on Star Calypso
Star Calypso is a bulk carrier under the flag of the Marshall Islands. On 2 November 2026, at about 21:25, it was about 9.7 nautical miles off Pulau Cula, Indonesia.
Three people were seen in the engine room workshop. ReCAAP says they carried a gun-like object. The crew sounded the general alarm and mustered.
The robbers tied up one crew member. His hand was slightly hurt, but he did not need medical help. The robbers took some engine spare parts.
The ship reported the case to Singapore VTIS (Vessel Traffic Information System). Later, at anchor south of Eastern Bunkering A Anchorage, the Singapore Police Coast Guard boarded the ship to search and investigate.
What happened on APJ Priti 2
APJ Priti 2 is a bulk carrier under the flag of India. On 4 November 2026, at about 23:35, it was about 9.4 nautical miles off Pulau Iyu Kecil, Indonesia.
Seven to eight people were seen on the poop deck. The poop deck is the raised deck at the back of the ship. The crew sounded the general alarm and mustered.
The crew searched the ship and did not see the intruders again. Nobody was hurt and nothing was stolen. The Singapore Police Coast Guard boarded the ship later at Eastern Holding B Anchorage to investigate.
In both cases, Singapore VTIS sent safety messages to warn other ships. The Republic of Singapore Navy and the Police Coast Guard were told, and the information was shared with Indonesia.
A known risk area
These two cases happened close to each other, in the same part of the strait. The ReCAAP list has 55 cases in Asia in 2026 so far. By our count, 27 of them happened in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
In most of these cases, robbers come on board to steal stores and engine spares. ReCAAP says they usually avoid the crew. But some cases, like Star Calypso, involve weapons and force. You can read more in our post on piracy and robbery in Asia in the first nine months of 2026.
What it means for crews in the Singapore Strait
ReCAAP's Regional Guide 2 to counter piracy and armed robbery gives advice for crews. These points come from it and from the cases above:
Keep a sharp lookout all the time, also at the stern and the poop deck. On APJ Priti 2, the intruders were seen on the poop deck.
Keep deck lights on at night, especially around the accommodation and the poop deck. Robbers are less likely to board a well-lit ship.
Keep doors to the accommodation and the engine room secured, as your ship security plan says. Keep emergency exits usable. Lock away tools, spare parts and stores.
If you see intruders, sound the general alarm and go to the muster point. Count the crew at once.
Do not fight the robbers. ReCAAP says this can get crew hurt or killed. Stay calm, keep your hands visible and do what they say.
Do not take photos of the robbers. Keep the CCTV and the voyage data recorder (VDR) running.
Report every boarding, even when nothing is stolen. In the strait, call Singapore VTIS, and tell your company security officer (CSO).
Keep evidence untouched for the police. Ask for medical help if someone is hurt.
For the worldwide picture, read our post on the IMB piracy report for January to September 2026. Emergency and help contacts are on Crewboard's useful links page.
Cover photo: Container ships at anchor off Singapore, 25 August 2012. Illustrative photo, not the ships in this story. Photo: Andrew Thomas/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped).
Sources: ReCAAP ISC: List of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia, 2026 (as of 6 Nov 2026), ReCAAP ISC: Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia.
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