Maritime Incident Report: February 2025
Executive Summary
Our monthly Maritime Incident Report: February 2025 covers maritime security and incidents throughout the Indian Ocean, Europe, West Africa, South East Asia and South America for the period 01/02/25 – 28/02/25.
• Europe: Around 900 migrants crossed the English Channel in February, with an estimated 600 more transiting routes in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.
• Red Sea and Gulf of Aden: No maritime security incidents involving commercial shipping were reported during February.
• Indian Ocean and Somali Basin: A Yemeni-flagged fishing dhow was boarded and held by suspected Somali pirates.
• The Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman: No maritime security incidents involving commercial shipping were reported in February.
• West Africa and Gulf of Guinea: Two vessels operating off the coast of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon were boarded by armed robbers, and a vessel was boarded by robbers in Takoradi, Ghana. Over 500 migrants from West Africa arrived in the Canary Islands during February in two incidents.
• Southeast Asia and South China Sea: Armed robbery increased as up to eleven vessels were approached or boarded and robbed while transiting the Phillip Channel in the Singapore Strait.
• The Caribbean Sea and South America: Two oil platforms in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico, were boarded and equipment and personal belongings were stolen. Robbery from private vessels remains a regular occurrence in the Caribbean Sea.
1. Regional Report: Europe
Monthly Activity
Around 900 migrants crossed the English Channel in February, with an estimated 600 more transiting routes in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. Conflict-related threats remain a risk to commercial shipping operating in the Black Sea. The Bulgarian Navy Chief said their navy has destroyed 18 mines in its waters since the beginning of the conflict, the last being on 09 January 2025, highlighting the threat that still exists from the Ukraine conflict in the maritime domain.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. February 2025 – Turkey. Migrants Rescued:
27 migrants were rescued off Aydin, Turkey.
2. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 09 February 2025 – Turkey. Migrants Intercepted:
108 migrants were intercepted near Izmir, Turkey.
3. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 14 February 2025 – Crete. Migrants Rescued:
65 migrants were rescued from Gavdos Island, south of Crete.
4. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 18 February 2025 – Turkey. Migrants Intercepted:
75 migrants were intercepted off Izmir, Turkey.
5. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 19 February 2025 – Crete. Migrants Rescued:
42 male migrants were rescued by a cargo vessel after a boat was spotted in distress and abandoned after hitting rocks on the south of the island.
Operational Status of Ukraine’s Black Sea Ports
•The Danube ports of Reni, Izmail and Ust-Dunaisk are open with some restrictions.
• Belgorod Dniestrovskiy is open with some restrictions.
• Odesa Port is open.
• Skadovsk port is closed.
• Chornomorsk is reported to be open. Grain export only.
• Pivdenny is open.
• The port of Berdyansk is closed.
• Mykolaiv (Olvia) Port is closed. Cargo operations are suspended for commercial operations.
• Mariupol Port is closed. The city is controlled by Russian forces, and the port is reported by the Russian military to be operational but it remains closed according to Ukraine’s Maritime Administration.
• Kherson Port is closed. Cargo operations are suspended for commercial operations.
2. Regional Report: Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea
Monthly Activity
On 19 January, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was agreed which put a conditional halt to the fighting in the Gaza Strip. In response, the Yemen Houthis announced they would end their attacks on non-Israeli-operated commercial ships transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The ceasefire and the Houthi’s declaration both appear to be holding at present as the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) reported no maritime security incidents took place in the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden during February.
Maritime Incidents
No incidents to report.
3. Regional Report: The Indian Ocean and Somali Basin
Monthly Activity
Armed men boarded a Yemen-flagged fishing dhow off the coast of Puntland, Somalia. Reports said it was believed that the dhow was used to identify potential targets for local pirates. The vessel was released after it was reported that a ransom was paid. Although the risk posed by the resurgence of Somali piracy during early 2024 has decreased, the potential for a return of pirate activity remains.
Maritime Incidents
1. Somalia. 17 February 2025 – Somalia. Vessel Hijacked:
EU NAVFOR (Op ATALANTA) reported that on 17 February, a suspected pirate attack took place against the Yemeni-flagged fishing boat SAYTUUN-2 off Garmaal in the vicinity of Eyl, Somalia. The vessel was released after unverified reports stated a ransom had been paid. cv
4. Regional Report: The Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman
Monthly Activity
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards conducted naval drills in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz as part of a series of nationwide military exercises that are expected to last until mid-March, Iranian state media reported that the exercise called ‘Egtedar’ or ‘Might’ in Farsi would feature fast boats, shore-to-sea missiles and surface-to-surface missiles. The start of the exercise coincided with reports of VHF challenges and suspicious approaches on vessels in the north of the Persian Gulf. Iran also poses a potential threat to commercial vessels transiting the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Ships may be contacted or harassed by Iranian authorities while operating in the region
Maritime Incidents
No incidents to report.
5. Regional Report: West Africa and Gulf of Guinea
Monthly Activity
Two boardings, believed to be hijack attempts, took place in the east of the region. Armed men boarded a fishing boat off the coast of Gabon and threatened the crew before taking 3 hostages and leaving the vessel. Another boarding took place off the coast of Equatorial Guinea when 3 armed persons were found on a vessel at night. A Maltese-flagged vessel was boarded by robbers while the ship was at the Takoradi Anchorage, in Ghana. Over 500 migrants from West Africa arrived in the Canary Islands during February.
Maritime Incidents
1. 01 February 2025 – Equatorial Guinea. Boarding:
The master of the cargo vessel JSP VENTO, transiting 60nm west of Bata, Equatorial Guinea, reported a boarding. During the night, 3 armed men boarded the vessel. Once detected, they left via the main deck, port side. A ‘boat’ was then observed on radar approximately 1 nm from the vessel. The boat followed the cargo ship for about 45 minutes before leaving the area.
2. Gulf of Guinea. 01 February 2025 – Gabon. Boarding and Theft:
The fishing trawler AMERGER 7 was located 15 nm off the coast of Gabon when it was boarded by an unknown number of armed individuals. The vessel was engaged in fishing activities within Gabonese territorial waters when the group of armed, hooded assailants boarded the vessel and overpowered the crew through force and coercion. The attackers reportedly forced the crew to kneel, physically assaulted them, seized their phones to cut off communications and destroyed the vessel’s own communication systems. During the attack, three Senegalese crew members, the Captain, mechanic, and an able seaman, were kidnapped. A Gabonese military vessel was dispatched to the location. The fishing boat returned to Port Gentil and the Gabonese authorities investigated the incident. The hostages were released on 19 February.
3. Gulf of Guinea. 24 February 025 – Ghana. Boarding:
While anchored at Takoradi anchorage area, Ghana, the tanker EUROTRADER was boarded by robbers. Two robbers were spotted onboard by the duty crew and the alarm was raised, the port authorities were informed. On hearing the alarm, the robbers escaped onto a skiff, where two other men were waiting. Nothing was reported to have been stolen.
4. Atlantic Ocean. 12 February 2025 – Canary Islands. Migrant & Refugee Incident:
Over 300 migrants were rescued off the Canary Islands, Spain.
5. Atlantic Ocean. 13 February 2025 – Canary Islands. Migrant & Refugee Incident:
217 human migrants arrived in the Canary Islands; their departure point is unknown.
6. Regional Report: South East Asia
Monthly Activity
During February, the number of robbery incidents in the Singapore Strait rose considerably. A total of 11 incidents were reported, with seven boardings taking place in the Phillip Channel area in the southwest of the Strait. Robbers used guns and knives to intimidate crew members during some of the incidents. Significant events are reported below.
Maritime Incidents
1. Singapore Strait. 03 February 2025 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
While transiting within the Phillip channel, the tanker ZEVIROUS, was boarded by sea robbers. The crew reportedly sighted 6 perpetrators armed with knives in the engine room. The Alarm was raised, but some ship’s spare parts were reported stolen.
2. Singapore Strait. 10 February 2025 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
An unnamed merchant vessel was boarded when transiting within the Phillip channel. The crew reported that 7 robbers armed with a pistol and knives entered the engine room, threatened a crew member, stole spare parts and fled. One person was slightly injured.
3. Singapore Strait. 16 February 2025 – Armed Boarding:
An unnamed cargo vessel was boarded by sea robbers while in the Phillip Channel. The crew reported that 3 unarmed were seen near the ship’s stern. Nothing was reported stolen.
4. Singapore Strait. 21 February 2025 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
While transiting at night in the Philip Channel, the cargo ship CYCLADIC SPIRE was boarded by robbers. The crew reported sighting 3 perpetrators with knives and guns in the engine room. Engine parts were stolen. The crew was reported to be safe.
5. Singapore Strait. 27 February 2025 – Armed Boarding:
While transiting within the Phillip channel, the cargo ship IFESTOS was boarded by sea robbers. The crew reported 6 robbers armed with hammers were spotted in the engine room. The robbers left the ship after being discovered. The captain was not able to determine if any vessel parts had been stolen. The crew was to be reported safe.
6. Singapore Strait. 28 February 2025 – Boarding and Assault:
While transiting within the Phillip channel, the cargo ship BASSET was boarded by sea robbers. The captain did not disclose the full details of the event, but one crew member sustained a facial injury and a CASEVAC took place.
7. Singapore Strait. 28 February 2025 – Armed Boarding:
While transiting the Phillip channel, the cargo vessel DSM ROSE, was boarded by sea robbers. The crew reported that 5 robbers with gun-like objects were in the steering gear room. The Captain was not able to state if any items had been stolen. The crew was reported safe.
6. Regional Report: South America and Caribbean
Monthly Activity
This month, the first oil platform boardings by criminal gangs since early 2024, were reported in the Gulf of Mexico. No criminal activity was reported in the ports of South America during February but we still advise against calling in ports in Ecuador due to social and political instability. In the Caribbean, social and political unrest in Haiti makes port visits highly dangerous and are not advised. Theft and petty crime rates against private yachts are high in the Caribbean; there were 6 incidents to report this month.
Maritime Incidents:
1. The Caribbean. 01 February 2025 – St Thomas. Theft:
Overnight, an unlocked dinghy was stolen from a yacht in Vessup Bay.
2. The Caribbean. 04 February 2025 – St Vincent. Intruder:
A yacht owner and his crew were down below at night with lights on when they heard noises on the upper deck. They made some noise and then went out to investigate. They saw a man sitting on their swimming platform and began yelling at him to leave. The intruder got back in the water and swam away.
3. The Caribbean. 15 February 2025 – Panama. Theft:
Yacht cruisers visited Hog Island mid-afternoon and left their dinghy while they took a brief walk. On their return about 45 minutes later they found their dinghy had been vandalized. Approximately 10 litres of dirty fuel had been dumped in the (unlocked) bow compartment. Nothing was stolen but the locker contents were ruined.
4. The Caribbean. 15 February 2025 – Antigua. Theft:
A dinghy and outboard were stolen from the dinghy lock in Falmouth Bay marina. The event took place overnight.
5. The Caribbean. 17 February 2025 – British Virgin Islands. Theft:
An unlocked charter yacht’s dinghy and outboard were stolen from the dinghy dock. A local business owner was able to locate the dinghy in another bay the next day and returned it intact. A report was made to the police.
6. The Caribbean. 18 February 2025 – Sint Maarten. Theft:
Overnight, a dinghy was stolen from a yacht anchored in the lagoon. The Dutch navy found the dinghy and returned it to the owners via the Dutch Coast Guard.
For detailed root cause analysis and background to the events described in this report, talk to our Intelligence team who can provide a bespoke report focusing on maritime incidents and conflict situations that may affect your vessels and crew. Contact us at enquiries@priavosecurity.com.