The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published its Monthly Piracy and Armed Robbery Report for June 2026.
According to the report, incidents involving piracy and armed robbery were reported in the Malacca Strait, South China Sea and Indian Ocean during June 2026. The reported cases included unauthorized boarding, theft of ship’s stores and engine spares, and attempted attacks involving firearms.
The reported incidents include -but are not limited to- the following:
- Jin Hwa 45/Jin Hwa 37 (Tug, Malaysia)
The incident: Three unauthorized persons boarded a barge under tow and escaped with stolen barge properties. No further details on the perpetrators or injuries were provided in the report.
Response: The incident was reported to the relevant authorities.
Location: Malacca Strait, around 25nm NE of Berakit Island, Indonesia, 01° 30.36′ N 104° 54.09′ E.
- Star Luna (Bulk carrier, Marshall Islands)
The incident: Three robbers armed with a gun and knife boarded a bulk carrier under way and took hostage an engine crew while they stole engine spares. The crew reported the incident to the bridge after the robbers had escaped. Alarm raised, crew mustered and a search was carried out. VTIS Central informed. Upon anchoring the coast guard boarded the vessel for inspection. An engine crew was taken hostage, and engine spares stolen. All crew are safe.
Response: Coast Guard boarded the vessel for inspection
Location: Malacca Strait, Singapore Straits, Singapore, 01° 03.73′ N 104° 40.77′ E.
- Xing Hai He (Bulk carrier, Marshall Islands)
The incident: While underway, two unarmed perpetrators were sighted on deck by crew. The ship’s general alarm was activated, and all crew members were mustered and accounted for. The crew was not injured and nothing was stolen. No further assistance was required.
The incident was reported to Singapore Vessel Traffic
- Information System (VTIS).
Response: Safety broadcast on anti-piracy watch was carried out to warn all vessels to always maintain a vigilant watch at all times in the SS. The RSN and SPCG were notified of the incident.
Information was shared with the Indonesian Authority. Upon arrival at PEBGB, SPCG boarded the vessel and conducted a search onboard, with no perpetrators found.
Location: Malacca Strait, approximately 1.9nm off Pulau Cula, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the TSS, 01° 04.16′ N 103° 41.91′ E.
- Gul Bano (Bulk carrier, Bangladesh)
The incident: While underway, four perpetrators were sighted in the engine room. One carried a gun-like object while three were unarmed. The general alarm was activated, deck lights were switched on and the crew was mustered. A search found no further sighting of the perpetrators. All crew were accounted for and safe, with no injuries reported. Some engine spares were missing.
Response: The incident was reported to Singapore VTIS. A safety broadcast was issued, while the RSN and SPCG were notified. Information was shared with the Indonesian authorities. Upon arrival at Eastern Holding A Anchorage, SPCG boarded the vessel and conducted a search, with no perpetrators found.
Location: Malacca Strait, approximately 3.2nm off Pulau Cula, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme, 01° 05.45′ N 103° 43.88′ E.
- Maria D (Bulk carrier, Liberia)
The incident: While underway, five perpetrators armed with a knife and a gun-like object were sighted in the engine room. The general alarm was activated, deck lights were switched on and the crew was mustered. A search was conducted but no perpetrators were found. All crew members were accounted for and safe, with no injuries reported. Some engine spares were stolen.
Response: The incident was reported to Singapore VTIS. A safety broadcast was issued and the RSN and SPCG were notified. Information was shared with the Indonesian authorities. Upon arrival at Eastern Holding A Anchorage, SPCG boarded the vessel and conducted a security search, but no perpetrators were found onboard.
Location: Malacca Strait, approximately 9.7nm off Pulau Iyu Kecil, Indonesia, in the eastbound lane of the TSS, 01° 08.43′ N 103° 30.30′ E.
- CMA CGM Valparaiso (Container ship, Malta)
The incident: During routine rounds on an anchored ship, the duty watchman was held at gunpoint by four robbers armed with three guns and a knife. The robbers forced him to open the bosun’s store, tied his hands with rope, and escaped with stolen ship’s stores. After freeing himself, the watchman alerted the OOW, who raised the general alarm and mustered the crew on the bridge. The incident was subsequently reported to the port authority.
Response: The incident was reported to the port authorities.
Location: MICT Anchorage, Manila, Philippines, 14° 36.59′ N 120° 49.00′ E.
- Teh Victory (Container ship, Marshall Islands)
The incident: Duty crew onboard an anchored ship noticed an unauthorised person on the poop deck. Upon sighting, the person escaped. The crew then noticed six robbers armed with a gun near the forward storeroom. On notifying the OOW, alarm raised, PA announcement made and crew mustered. Seeing the alerted crew the robbers escaped with stolen ship’s stores.
Response: The incident was reported to the relevant authorities.
Location: Manila North Port Anchorage, Philippines, 14° 36.40′ N 120° 50.69′ E.
- EA Gatun (Container ship, Portugal)
The incident: Unnoticed, robbers boarded an anchored ship, stole the ship’s properties and escaped. The theft was discovered the following morning.
Response: The incident was reported to the relevant authorities.
Location: Callao Anchorage, Peru, 11° 59.50′ S 077° 13.40′ W.
- TS Pusan (Container ship, Marshall Islands)
The incident: Bosun onboard an anchored ship noticed four robbers armed with a knife at the forecastle deck and immediately raised the alarm resulting in the robbers escaping with stolen ship’s properties.
Response: The available report states that the incident was reported to IMBKL, but it was not reported to the coastal authority.
Location: MICT Anchorage, Manila, Philippines.
- SDM Shenyang (Bulk carrier, Liberia)
The incident: Duty officer onboard an anchored bulk carrier noticed several small boats near the forward of the vessel and notified the bosun to check. After several minutes, on not receiving any response from the bosun, the duty officer raised the alarm. Crew mustered and proceeded to the forecastle where they saw the bosun tied up. Seven robbers armed with knives were seen escaping from the forecastle store. On investigating ships properties were reported as stolen. Incident reported to Belawan VTS, Coast Guard and the local agent
Response: The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. The incident was reported to Belawan VTS, the Coast Guard and the local agent.
Location: Malacca Strait, Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia, 03° 55.10′ N 098° 47.30′ E.
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