Robbery - Singapore Strait

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Incident Details

Incident Date & Time:

25 December 2025, 13:30 UTC

Location:

Singapore Strait

Latitude/Longitude: 

1° 12' 13.20" N, 103° 54' 31.20" E

Vessel Type, Name, Flag, IMO and Status:

Barge, Underway

Incident Type:

Robbery

Crew status

No injuries reported

Incident Details

Description

A robbery occurred involving a Singaporean-flagged Tug towing a barge while underway in the Eastbound Lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme, Singapore Strait. The Master of the Tug reported that nine perpetrators were observed aboard the barge stealing scrap metal items. All crew were reported safe, the vessel did not require assistance, and continued her voyage to Vietnam.

Key findings

This incident demonstrates a sophisticated boarding operation targeting a slow-moving tug and barge combination within the heavily monitored Traffic Separation Scheme. The perpetrators' focus on scrap metal cargo suggests advance intelligence about the vessel's cargo manifest and route. The fact that nine attackers successfully boarded the barge while it was under tow indicates either a well-coordinated waterborne approach or possible infiltration during a previous port call. The attackers' ability to complete their theft without confronting the tug crew suggests tactical discipline and specific targeting of cargo rather than crew valuables. The incident's location within the eastbound TSS lane is particularly concerning as it demonstrates criminal groups' willingness to operate in high-traffic, well-surveilled waters. The crew's decision to continue the voyage rather than seek immediate assistance may indicate the robbery was discovered after the perpetrators had already departed, suggesting a quick, efficient operation designed to minimize detection time.

Recommendations

- Implement regular visual inspections of towed barges during transit, particularly when carrying valuable scrap metal cargo.
- Consider deploying motion sensors or basic surveillance equipment on unmanned barges carrying high-value recyclable materials.
- Establish communication protocols for immediate reporting of suspicious activity to Singapore VTIS when transiting the TSS.

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