26 March 2025
Maritime Roundtable Charts Future Direction of ReCAAP ISC
This is the third Maritime Roundtable co-organised by ReCAAP ISC and RSIS
Senior representatives from the shipping industry, law enforcement agencies and academia participated in the third ReCAAP ISC-RSIS Maritime Roundtable today, held in conjunction with Singapore Maritime Week 2025. Participants had a robust discussion on “The Future of ReCAAP ISC.”
Since its establishment in 2006, the ReCAAP ISC has made significant progress in enhancing regional cooperation through information sharing, capacity building and cooperative arrangements to combat piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. During the Centre’s 12th Governing Council Meeting in March 2018, the Council announced that the ReCAAP ISC has met the criteria to be a “Centre of Excellence” for information sharing in combating piracy and armed robbery against ships at sea.
In view of ReCAAP ISC’s 20th anniversary in 2026, participants of the third Maritime Roundtable deliberated on how the Centre can build upon its success, and continue to stay relevant to the shipping industry and international community moving forward.
Suggestions which arose during the roundtable include:
- Increasing ReCAAP’s membership to include more countries, and monitoring area beyond Asia
- Enlarging the Centre’s mandate to include emerging maritime security threats with a nexus to piracy and sea robbery
- Exploring new and innovative solutions in combating piracy and sea robbery in Asia
- Conducting of anti-piracy and sea robbery training for crew
Mr Krishnaswamy Natarajan, Executive Director of ReCAAP ISC and co-moderator of the roundtable, said “Piracy and sea robbery are often linked to other criminal activities at sea such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking, smuggling and terrorism. Given the linkages between different maritime crimes, there is scope for ReCAAP ISC to expand its remit to include research and analysis of a wider range of maritime crimes, so as to provide a more complete picture and better serve the shipping community. The suggestions raised by participants during the roundtable has provided a good starting point for the next Executive Director to chart the future strategic direction and priorities of the Centre.”
Dr Sinderpal Singh, Assistant Director, Institute of Defence & Strategic Studies, S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), said, “After almost two decades of existence, it is timely for ReCAAP ISC to take stock of its key achievements, and explore new areas where it can serve the shipping industry. As a global think tank with a robust maritime security programme, the RSIS will continue to partner the Centre in its future endeavours.”
Held under the Chatham House Rule, the participants of the Maritime Roundtable include senior representatives from shipping associations, shipping companies maritime law enforcement agencies and academia.
