Over the past week, 1-7 October, one CAT 4 incident of armed robbery against ships in Asia.
The incident occurred onboard a tanker at Balongan Anchorage, Indonesia, on 17 September 2025 at 0045 hrs. Three perpetrators were involved, using unspecified weapons. No crew injuries were reported. Some ship stores were stolen and the incident was classified as CAT 4 in significance.
Area of concern
The ships shall to exercise enhanced vigilance and step up watch-keeping when at ports and anchorages, and the coastal State to increase patrols and enforcement in the area.
Situation of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah: Situation update
For a 5th consecutive year, there has been no report of incident of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah. The last incident occurred on 17 Jan 2020. In January 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), coordinated with other stakeholders and counterparts further downgraded the threat level of ‘Abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas’ to ‘LOW’, meaning ‘No information or monitored activities suggest an impending attack; hence incidents are not expected to occur’.
ISC advisory
In its Advisory on 14 Feb 2025 advised ships to “exercise vigilance when transiting the Sulu-Celebes Seas and report incidents to the Operation Centres of the Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM)”.
Recommendations
Ship master and crew are to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal State and flag State, referring to the Poster on the Contact Details for Reporting of Incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, exercise vigilance and adopt appropriate preventive measures taking reference from the Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia.