Maritime Security Report: 16-22 February 2026
- Palaemon Maritime
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
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.
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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 shredded metal at the Port of Vancouver, with no reported deaths.
Persian Gulf: Several skiffs that suspiciously approached a tug flying the Saint Kitts flag 70 nautical miles south of Aden opened fire on the tug with small arms. Proceed with caution.
Southeast Asia: A fire in the lounge area of a passenger ship took the life of one of the Indonesian crew members; the fire has been extinguished, and the ship is at anchor.
Key Incidents by Region
North Europe
19 February 2026
The Iranian-flagged container ship Nora, which was previously named Cerus, has been detained by Danish authorities east of Albaek in northern Jutland, as it was not properly registered. The ship, which had ties to a political adviser of the Iranian Supreme Leader, was sanctioned as part of the shadow fleet transporting Russian and Iranian oil. Some also believed the ship may have been part of false-flag operations, given that it was found to have briefly flown under the flag of Comoros with no authorization.
Northeast Pacific
18 February 2026
At the Port of Vancouver, a 656-foot breakbulk carrier caught fire in its cargo hold. Authorities intervened after metal shreds stored in the midship hold were producing smoke and flames during unloading. The crew had activated onboard fire suppression in an attempt to contain the flames, and it was extinguished with no fatalities.
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Persian Gulf
17 February 2026
A tug flying the flag of Saint Kitts was attacked while steaming 70 nautical miles south of Aden. Multiple small skiffs, with five personnel each, were reported to approach the vessel with small arms and exchange warning shots. Other vessels are advised to report any suspicious activity and to transit with caution.
Southeast Asia
20 February 2026
World Legacy, a Ro-Ro/Passenger Ship flying the flag of Liberia, experienced a fatal fire on deck nine at 4:00 am (Singapore time) while on its way to Singapore. One Indonesian crew member died in the fire. The SCDF Marine firefighters extinguished the fire after the crew brought the blaze under control. The vessel is now stable, and there is a safety zone around the ship.
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Threat Outlook
Region | Threat Level | Assessment |
North Europe | Moderate | The detention of the Iranian vessel showcases some grey-zone activity, but no navigational risk. |
Northeast Pacific | Low | The fire appears accidental, not indicative of major security risks. |
Persian Gulf | High | Caution is advised regarding piracy and rising military tensions. |
Southeast Asia | Low | The fire appears accidental, not indicative of major security risks. |
Operational Guidance
Operators should:
Follow BMP5 transit protocols
Enhance watchkeeping and onboard vigilance
Avoid Iranian international waters
Report all incidents to:
UKMTO
MDAT-GoG
ReCAAP
IMB / IMO
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