Loss Prevention Advice
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Port of Antwerp-Bruges and North Sea Port have launched awareness campaigns urging all port users to pause before responding to seemingly harmless requests in a bid to combat maritime drug trafficking.
A dominant method of smuggling in Belgium is the rip-on/rip-off technique, where drugs are inserted into legitimate containers, often at the point of origin, and later removed by “insiders” with authorized access, either voluntarily or under coercion from gangs.
Once a container is loaded, a vessel’s ability to detect or prevent smuggling becomes very limited. As a result, the emphasis is on maintaining vigilance in port and fully cooperating with authorities.
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Incidents of self-heating of coals shipped out of Paradip India, emphasizing the lack of knowledge from some local shippers on the dangers of coal and IMSBC code requirements, coupled with a lack resources in the region to cope with any issues that arise.
On one occasion the coal was mis-declared as GROUP C, with no reference to whether the coal was liable to self-heating or to emitting methane. No instructions for carriage were offered to the master for the cargo as required by the IMSBC code.
Immediately after load the cargo showed serious signs of self-heating with smoke visible and there were signs of heating (steam and/or smoke) from the stockpile. There were no means of removing the burning cargo from the vessel at the berth.
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Over the past week, 25 November – 1 December, one CAT 41 incident of armed robbery against ships in Asia.
The incident occurred onboard a tugboat and barge while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait (SS), on 27 November 2025. The crew was not injured. However, some scrap metal was stolen from the ship.
Area of concern
With this incident reported in SS, a total of 103 incidents were reported in SOMS since January 2025. Ships shall to exercise enhanced vigilance when transiting SOMS, and the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in these areas.
Situation of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah
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’.
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)”. Also, to maintain communication with the relevant authorities when transiting the area.
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.
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Below you will find ARC’s weekly report dated 26 November 2025, covering the period of 20 to 26 November 2025, where the following incidents were reported:
- 0 maritime security incidents in West Africa in the last 7 days
- 1 maritime security incident in the Indian Ocean/Middle East in the last 7 days.
Full advisory at the following link.
https://britanniapandi.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ARC-Weekly-Report-26.11.25.pdf