The Anti-Piracy and Sea Robbery Conference 2025 was held in conjunction with Singapore Maritime Week on 26 March 2025. The annual conference was jointly organised by ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC), the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore, and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). Over 150 participants from the shipping industry, academia, navies, coast guards, law enforcement agencies, and diplomatic organisations attended the event.
The conference provided an assessment of the trends in piracy and sea robbery incidents in Asia, examining developments on issues of concern to maritime stakeholders and how they have impacted the livelihoods of the maritime community. The conference also provided a platform for participants to share best practices, and discuss innovative, collaborative, and cooperative efforts by stakeholders to ensure safe and secure seas for the maritime community.
Dr Sinderpal Singh, Assistant Director, Institute of Defence & Strategic Studies, RSIS, moderated the first panel discussion on “Global Situation and Maritime Issues”. Delving into global geopolitical developments and emerging maritime issues, panellists examined how maritime threats, particularly the disruptions in the Black Sea and Red Seas, as well as the issue of piracy and sea robbery within the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, impacted maritime trade and the well-being of seafarers. The discussions highlighted the role of bilateral cooperation and multilateral coordination among littoral states through frameworks such as the Malacca Straits Patrol and mechanisms for information sharing and coordinated incident responses in enhancing maritime security. Insights were also shared on the adoption of new technologies by enforcement agencies, such as unmanned platforms to increase operational capacity and the adoption of artificial intelligence to proactively identify threats to improve response time.
The second panel discussion on “Exploring New ways to Adapt to the Evolving Maritime Landscape in Asia” was moderated by Ms Jane Chan, Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Maritime Security Programme, RSIS. Based on ReCAAP’s annual report, there has been an increase in piracy and armed robbery incidents, particularly within the Singapore Strait, with 28 incidents in Q1 2025 compared to 11 during the same period in 2024. While the incidents remain confined to petty thefts, concern remains due to the potential for escalation, with a rise in perpetrators being armed with metal rods or improvised tools, and the successful boardings of vessels with high freeboard. Panellists shared about the importance of timely detection and responses and the adoption of new technologies in deterring boarding by perpetrators. Current efforts undertaken by enforcement agencies in promoting cross-border cooperation were also highlighted during the discussions. There were also strong calls by the shipping community for collaboration among maritime security actors and for the community to take a more proactive role in ensuring their own safety and security, with a suggestion to even establish an industry-led “neighbourhood watch”.
