On 22 April, two commercial vessels were attacked in close succession in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting a pattern of deliberate, controlled escalation. Read the full analysis below. Two Ships Attacked in Hormuz The first incident occurred approximately 15 nautical miles off the Musandam Peninsula, where a container ship was approached by an IRGC-linked gunboat. Notably, no communication was initiated via VHF before the gunboat opened fire, causing structural damage to the

This week saw thirteen maritime incidents , with intensified drone and unmanned strikes in the Black Sea and a sharp escalation of enforcement measures and kinetic activity in the Indian Ocean. Download the full report here: Executive Summary Indian Ocean Tensions in the Persian Gulf escalated this week following the implementation of a U.S. naval blockade targeting Iranian-linked maritime traffic. The move introduces a new layer of operational complexity for commercial shipp

United States Navy guided-missil e destroyer Michael Murphy (DDG 112) returning to Pearl Harbor, 2022. Michael Murphy is currently operating in the Persian Gulf. On 13 April 2026 at 14:00 UTC, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) activated a naval blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports. The blockade covers all Iranian ports along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman and is being enforced impartially against vessels of all flags and nationalities. With more

This week  saw  seven maritime incidents, with Europe targeted by drone warfare and instabilities persisting in the Indian Ocean. Download the full report here:   Executive Summary Indian Ocean Another vessel was struck in the Persian Gulf, as the Hormuz Crisis continues. Meanwhile, a second hijacking took place of a Dhow off the Somali coast, which portrays a deliberate strategy by Somali Pirate Groups to take advantage of regional insecurity. Europe Russia and Ukraine cont

The Strait may reopen, but uncertainty surrounding maritime shipping persists. Read the full article for a detailed analysis. A Conditional Reopening The provisional two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran marks a critical inflection point for one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints. The Strait of Hormuz, restricted since late February amid US-Israeli strikes and Iranian countermeasures, is now poised for a conditional reopening tied explicitly

This week saw 10 maritime incidents , including multiple projectile and UAV attacks in the Indian Ocean, a vessel sinking in the Strait of Hormuz, and continued Russian shadow fleet and drone-related activity across European waters. Download the full report here: Executive Summary Indian Ocean Maritime security in the Indian Ocean has further deteriorated , with attacks linked to the ongoing Hormuz crisis. Multiple vessels were targeted by projectiles and UAVs , including tan

As the eyes of the world's naval powers fix on the volatile Straight of Hormuz, and the ongoing maritime crisis amidst the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, Somali Pirate Action Groups (PAGs) have begun a sophisticated and aggressive resurgence to exploit the strategic vacuum. Somali Piracy has returned amidst escalations in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz The latest alarm bell rang on March 24, 2026 , when the MSCIO (Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean)  was informed about the

This week  saw 7 maritime incidents , including vessel attacks, a grounding off Norway, and a dhow hijacking in the Indian Ocean. Download the full report here:    Executive Summary Indian Ocean: Maritime security in the Indian Ocean is still volatile due to wartime spillover around the Straight of Hormuz. This week saw multiple vessels and ports affected by projectile-related incidents. Simultaneously, Somali piracy gangs have opportunistically resumed hijacking operations a

The recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Ust-Luga and Primorsk ports on March 24-25 are more than isolated military actions; they represent a calculated strategy to disrupt Russian oil exports at a moment of shifting global energy dynamics . For maritime professionals, the events highlight a growing intersection between conflict, infrastructure vulnerability, and global shipping risk.  Sea terminal in Russian Ust-Luga (Credit: RBC Ukraine) Strategic Targeting of Oil Infrastruc

This week recorded 9 maritime security incidents , as piracy ticks up whilst the world’s attention is diverted to wartime spillovers to commercial shipping. Download the full report here: Executive Summary Indian Ocean: Maritime security in the Indian Ocean is still volatile due to wartime spillover in the Persian Gulf. This week saw multiple vessels affected by projectile-related incidents (direct strikes, near misses, and collateral damage from attacks), especially near K

At least five ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz, but did so via the irregular route of passing through the narrow channel in the Iranian TTW between Larak Island and Qeshm. This blog article investigates this development and assesses the implications for shipping in the area. For weeks, the global energy sector has held its breath as the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most critical maritime chokepoint, remained effectively sealed by an Iranian naval blockade. Since lat

This week recorded 13 maritime security incidents , as wartime spillovers deeply affect commercial shipping, creating tensions in energy markets.    Download the full report here: Executive Summary   Indian Ocean: Multiple commercial vessels have been hit by unknown projectiles in the Persian Gulf. Ten attacks on commercial vessels have been recorded this week, 9  of which were successful hits. Targets varied  from bulk carriers to tankers, including vessels from a diverse ra

U.S. forces have destroyed 16 Iranian vessels after intelligence sources suggested Tehran may have begun laying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Read the article to understand how this will impact maritime operators internationally. Video Footage US Forces eliminate 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz (Credit: CENTCOM) The maritime security situation in the Strait of Hormuz has escalated drastically after reports indicated that Iran has begun laying naval mines in t

This week recorded 32 maritime security incidents  as wartime spillovers deeply affect global navigation and shipping, primarily in the Arabian and Black Seas.  Download the full report here: Executive Summary Indian Ocean/Arabian Gulf: Maritime security in the Indian Ocean is extremely precarious following the wartime escalation between the United States, Israel, and Iran. This week, vessels were struck by missiles, drones, or explosive projectiles across the Strait of Hormu

Military actions int he Gulf have produced unprecedented volatility to global energy and shipping markets, as the Strait of Hormuz enters a "risk-induced gridlock". With 20% of the world's oil supply stalled and shipping costs surging, the 2025 Gulf Crisis is fundamentally redrawing the strategic map of maritime trade. The Arabian Gulf has long been the world’s most sensitive barometer for geopolitical tension, but the events of early March 2026 have pushed the needle into th

This week, nine incidents were recorded, as wartime spillovers from Iran are affecting global navigation, and piracy is on the rise in West Africa and the Singapore Strait. Download the full report here: Executive Summary   Indian Ocean: The United States and Israel launched joint air strikes against Iran, causing a flurry of retaliatory strikes in the region, producing spillovers to maritime trade such as the closing of the Hormuz Strait and projectiles impacting close to v

As Palaemon highlighted in previous articles ( read here ), geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran raise concerns for vessels transiting the Red Sea. This volatile maritime security environment is reflected in the European decision to continue its naval presence in the region. Read the full article to have an update on the crisis and its effects on commercial shipping. Naval units from Iran and Russia carry out drills (Credit: Al-Azzawi) US-Iran Capabiliti

This week, four incidents were recorded, featuring onboard fires, detentions, and suspicious approaches. As geopolitical tensions are set to escalate in the following days, risks to shipping will rise. Download the full report here: Executive Summary North Europe: A containership that had been blacklisted for its involvement in the shadow fleet was detained in Denmark for false registry. Northeast Pacific: A breakbulk carrier caught fire in its cargo hold while unloading

Why improvised deterrence is giving way to engineered protection The Era of Improved Defences During the rise of Somali piracy, the shipping industry was forced to react quickly to a mobile, violent and determined threat. Vessels were being targeted and boarded at range, often with very little warning. Something was needed fast to mitigate that risk. The emergence of private armed guards provided a strong deterrent and, in many cases, an effective preventative measure. Alongs

Warning shots off Aden highlight the fragile security environment in the Red Sea, where geopolitical escalation and opportunistic piracy continue to endanger global trade. In our previous analysis, "Soon": US v.s. Iran Regional Escalation and Houthis Threat Assessment , we explored the fragile tinderbox of the Red Sea and the potential for a resurgence of Houthi activity amidst US-Iran confrontations. Though a non-state actor, the Houthi's hold significant asymmetric leverag