Robbery - Phillip Channel, Singapore Strait

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Incident Details

Incident Date & Time:

16 October 2025, 03:40 UTC

Location:

Singapore Strait, Phillip Channel

Latitude/Longitude: 

1° 4' 18.00" N, 103° 35' 25.20" E

Vessel Name, Type, Flag and Status:

Bulk Carrier, Cyprus-flagged, Underway

Incident Type:

Robbery

Crew status

No injuries reported

Incident Details

Description

On October 16, 2025, at 03:40 UTC, an attempted robbery occurred aboard a Cyprus-flagged Bulk Carrier while underway in the Eastbound Lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme in the Phillip Channel, Singapore Strait. The crew spotted two perpetrators armed with knives in the engine room. The intruders escaped upon being discovered. All crew members were reported safe, and no items were stolen. The vessel continued its journey to its next port of call, Singapore.

Response Actions

- No Response Mentioned

Stolen Items

- None

Key findings

This incident demonstrates a common tactic employed by opportunistic criminals in the Singapore Strait, targeting vessels during nighttime transits. The perpetrators' ability to board a moving vessel and access the engine room undetected indicates a level of skill and familiarity with ship layouts. Their quick escape upon discovery suggests they were not prepared for confrontation, which is typical of opportunistic thieves rather than more organized pirate groups. The crew's vigilance in detecting the intruders likely prevented theft and potential harm, highlighting the importance of maintaining watch and conducting regular shipboard security rounds, even in busy shipping lanes.

Recommendations

-  Maintain heightened vigilance and increase watch rotations when transiting the Singapore Strait, especially at night.

- Conduct regular security sweeps of vulnerable areas such as the engine room and implement physical security measures to restrict access.

- Ensure crew are trained in and follow ship security protocols, including immediate reporting of suspicious activities.

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Disclaimer
You have received this report as part of your organisation’s subscription. Castor Vali assessment and advice is given based on the information received and processed by us and the surrounding circumstances known to us to exist at the time. Subsequent changes to relevant information or the surrounding circumstances may affect the reliability of our assessment and advice, but we do not accept responsibility for that effect. We do not accept responsibility for the outcome of any action taken or not taken as a result of our assessment and advice unless the possibility of that action being taken or not taken is set out in specific terms in our instructions.

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