Singapore Strait

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Incident Details

Incident Date & Time:

01 May 2025; 1855hrs

Location:

Singapore Strait

Latitude/Longitude: 

1° 3' 16.80" N, 103° 37' 57.00" E

Vessel Name, Type, IMO, Flag & Status

SMA, Chemical Tanker, 9273002, Cook Islands, Underway

Incident Type:

Robbery/theft

Crew status

No injuries reported

Incident Details

Description

On May 1, 2025, at 18:55 UTC, the Chemical Tanker 'S M A' was boarded by four perpetrators while underway in the Singapore Strait. The intruders, carrying unknown objects, were sighted on deck and in the engine room. The vessel's emergency general alarm was activated, prompting a crew search that found no perpetrators aboard. While there was no direct confrontation, the 3rd Engineer and one Able Bodied Seaman (AB) sustained minor hand injuries in the darkness. Engine spare parts were reported stolen. The incident was reported to Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS), which initiated safety broadcasts to warn vessels in the area. The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) were notified. Information about the incident was shared with Indonesian authorities.

Response Actions

- Security Incident Reported
- Self-defense Measures
- Singapore Vtis
- Police Coast Guard
- Singapore Navy

Stolen items

- Engine Spares

Key findings

This incident demonstrates a sophisticated level of planning and execution by the perpetrators. Their ability to board a moving vessel, access both the deck and engine room, and steal specific items (engine spare parts) suggests a degree of familiarity with ship layouts and valuable targets. The fact that they managed to evade detection during the crew's search indicates either a well-planned escape route or effective hiding spots aboard the vessel. The minor injuries sustained by crew members, despite no direct confrontation, highlight the potential dangers of searching for intruders in low-visibility conditions. The quick response in raising the alarm and conducting a search likely contributed to minimizing the extent of the theft and preventing potential escalation to a more violent encounter.

Recommendations

- Enhance physical security measures in engine rooms and on deck, particularly focusing on access points.

-  Implement regular, randomized security patrols, especially during high-risk transit areas.

-  Conduct drills on safe intruder search procedures, emphasizing crew safety in low-visibility conditions.

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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