Robbers Board Chemical Tanker In Singapore Strait, Crew Member Injured

A Singapore-registered chemical tanker, Basset, was boarded without authorisation in the Singapore Strait on February 28, 2025, and one of the members onboard was injured.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) confirmed medical evacuation was underway for the injured seafarer.

The incident took place at around 7:00 a.m. Singapore Time (SGT) while the vessel was outside Singapore’s territorial waters.

Following the alert, the Singapore Police Coast Guard and Singapore Civil Defence Force were activated to assist. The tanker is now anchored in Singapore waters, and authorities have ensured that all crew members are accounted for. Additionally, there are no Singaporean crew onboard the vessel.

MPA has issued safety alerts to vessels in the region, advising them to maintain a high level of vigilance. However, it was assured that the incident has not affected the safety of navigation in the Singapore Strait.

The Basset is a 49,000 dwt MR2 chemical tanker built in 2019. It is owned by Hong Kong-based Grace Ocean Investment and is commercially managed by Hafnia through its pooling operations.

Maritime data providers, including VesselsValue and S&P Global, confirm its ownership details.

Though the exact nature of the unauthorised boarding has not been disclosed, similar past incidents in the area have involved groups of robbers, often armed with knives, who target ships to steal spare parts and other supplies.

Armed robbery against vessels in the Singapore Strait has been a growing concern, with 61 cases recorded in 2024, an increase from 58 in 2023, according to a regional maritime security centre.

The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) reported that sea robbery incidents in the area nearly tripled in early 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Between January 1 and February 3 this year, 11 incidents were recorded onboard ships transiting the Phillip Channel near Pulau Cula and Helen Mar Reef, compared to only four cases during the same timeframe last year.

References: MPA, Reuters

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