There were just 35 incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia reported during the first half of 2026, according to the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC). This meant that across Asia the number of incidents recorded between January and June was the lowest for this period since H1 2019. ReCAAP remained concerned specifically about opportunistic armed robberies the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), but even there it noted a strong decline year-over-year in incidents – probably the result of police actions in apprehending repeat offenders. The total number of incidents was down by nearly two thirds year on year, with 96 incidents reported during H1 2025. The Straits of Malacca and Singapore remained the primary area for piracy and armed crime, followed by an increase in incidents in the Philippines. ReCAAP ISC Executive Director Vijay Chafekar said that “the sharp decrease in incidents in the SOMS in the first half of 2026 can be attributed to the combination of effective preventive measures by the shipping industry and firm operational response by the law enforcement agencies of the littoral states”. He noted that “the residual petty theft cases are localized in the eastbound lane of the Phillip Channel in the Singapore Strait. These incidents can be contained by implementing visible countermeasures onboard ships”. The majority of incidents across Asia, 20 of the 35, were in the eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait. The incidents mostly targeted bulk carriers (62%) or barges (29%), with engine spare parts being stolen in about a third of the cases. Scrap metal was also being stolen from the barges. Most of the incidents happened at night. In 44% of cases the perpetrators were carrying knives or guns. However, in only 10% of the SOMS cases were crewmembers threatened or injured. Most of the incidents were opportunistic theft and non-confrontational, usually when ships were underway Most often, if they are detected on a ship, they flee. There were 10 incidents reported this year in the Philippines, compared with zero in 2025. The Coast Guard arrested several perpetrators between January and April. There were no reported incidents of abduction of crew in the once notorious Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah, nor had there been any for more than six years.