Reply To Media Query on Increase in Piracy in Singapore Waters

Piracy in the Straits of Malacca

Incidents in the Strait of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) are typically petty crimes where perpetrators board vessels at night in an opportunistic manner to steal small items like engine spare parts, ropes, and crews’ personal belongings. These are unlike the piracy incidents in Gulf of Guinea or off the coast of Somalia (which are typically more complex, well-funded, and planned syndicate operations).

Singapore’s Information Fusion Centre (IFC)

The Information Fusion Centre (IFC) plays a key role in ensuring safe and secure seas through timely and comprehensive information sharing with our partners. Through the years, IFC have established an extensive network with 159 linkages from 58 countries and agencies, including military, enforcement agencies and shipping companies. There is also a group of 25 Information Liaison Officers (ILOs) from 20 countries based in IFC who play crucial roles in providing domain expertise, knowledge of local waters and seamless communications with various Operation Centres to ensure swift cueing of operational responses through actionable information. IFC also works closely with ReCAAP to exchange information, and with Singapore’s Maritime Port Authority (MPA) to send regular maritime security advisories to remind transiting vessels to adopt recommended shipboard security measures. IFC also conducts regular engagements with the regional shipping community through the Shared Awareness Meetings (SAM) and company visits to exchange information and assessments, as well as to discuss practical security measures to be implemented on transiting ships. In addition to the existing collaboration between the agencies, the shipping community can also step up to support. Transiting ships should report all suspicious small boat activities and to report incidents promptly and adopt recommended security measures to deter potential perpetrators from even attempting to board. 

Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP) 

To curb these incidents and to enhance maritime security in the SOMS, Singapore works closely with our regional partners of the Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP) programme – Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand – to implement a set of practical cooperative measures. Our navies conduct coordinated patrols, and our operations centres and commanders have strong links to share information and cue responses. 

CORPAT INDOSIN 

In the Singapore Strait, we work closely with our Indonesian counterparts, particular the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), to share information and respond to maritime security situations through the CORPAT INDOSIN programme – the conduct of coordinated patrols between Indonesia and Singapore. Both navies also share information and meet regularly to discuss efforts to enable the smooth and safe flow of shipping. An example on the successes of such collaboration is shown in the resources link below.

RSN’s and Singapore’s Efforts in the Singapore Strait

Within Singapore’s Territorial Waters, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) works closely with our whole-of-Government partners such as the Police Coast Guard (PCG) and Maritime Port Authority (MPA) to ensure the security of Singapore’s waters, monitoring Singapore’s Territorial Waters on a 24/7 basis. There have been no piracy or sea robbery incidents in Singapore’s Territorial Waters in 2025. Sea robbery incidents in the Singapore Strait have also fallen, with 17 in Jul 25 to two in Aug 25 and one in Sep 25.

For more information/elaboration, please see the resources below