Maritime Security Report: 19th - 26th July 2026
- Palaemon Intelligence Team
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
This week saw twenty-two incidents globally, affecting over 46 vessels in regions including: Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Caspian Sea, Red Sea, and Strait of Hormuz.
Download the full report here:
Major Incidents Include:
CARIBBEAN SEA
Low-Level Property Theft: Maritime security risks remain minimal and strictly limited
to opportunistic crime in this region, as is highlighted by a single reported incident of
petty theft aboard a merchant vessel with zero impact on crew or vessel safety.
CASPIAN SEA:
New Theatre Against Iran–Russia Logistics: Ukraine's first reported Caspian strikes on 25 July destroyed an Iranian commercial vessel and hit a Russian warship, killing one and prompting Tehran to summon Kyiv's chargé d'affaires
EUROPE
Escalating Black Sea Strike Exchange: Ukrainian USF strikes hit at least 27 vessels across the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Novorossiysk. Russian missiles sank a cargo vessel off Odesa with ten dead or missing, and a tanker exploded 20nm off Romania.
RED SEA
Houthi Escalation: Naval blockade declared 20 July, missiles on Jazan Aramco facilities 25 July, two tankers struck 22 and 24 July.
STRAIT OF HORMUZ
US–Iran Exchange, Shipping Caught Between: Four nights of CENTCOM strikes to 24 July met by Iranian retaliation; three vessels struck, one seized by Iran, one disabled by US forces.
RED SEA
MISSILE ATTACK/ 25th JULY
The Houthis launched multiple waves of ballistic missiles at Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Jazan. Footage showed a large fire but remains unverified, and a second wave allegedly targeted the Yanbu pipeline and King Khalid Air Base.
NEAR MISS/ 24th JULY
A tanker in the southern Red Sea reported an unknown projectile splashing close aboard. The vessel and crew were confirmed safe and environmental impact was unconfirmed.
ATTACK/ 24th JULY
A Saudi-flagged tanker was attacked underway and sustained minor hull damage. Saudi authorities confirmed the vessel and crew were safe and the tanker continued to its destination.
ATTACK/ 22nd JULY
A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile roughly 70nm southwest of Al Shuqaiq, starting a fire the crew fought. No casualties or pollution were reported.
SUSPICIOUS APPROACH/ 21st JULY
Merchant vessels reported armed skiffs and speedboats near the transit corridor at the Bab el-Mandeb. One skiff carrying six men with visible ammunition followed a vessel for around five minutes before breaking off.
NAVAL BLOCKADE/ 20th JULY
The Houthis declared an immediate naval blockade of Saudi Arabia on the principle of "siege for siege". Their spokesman warned that any Saudi action would be met with comprehensive escalation.
STRAIT OF HORMUZ
STRIKE/ 24th JULY
US forces fired on a merchant vessel attempting to pass the blockade on Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM said the vessel tried to run the line several times and ignored warnings before assets struck its engine room.
DRONE CAMPAIGN/ 21-24th JULY
U.S. forces conducted four consecutive nights of strikes on Iranian military and air defense sites, triggering Iranian drone retaliations across Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Although CENTCOM asserts the waterway remains open with military support, recent maritime attacks have left roughly 400 vessels and 6,000 mariners stranded in the area.
ATTACK/ 20th JULY
A tanker reported over VHF Channel 16 that it had been struck by an unknown projectile 8nm northeast of Limah, Oman. The crew abandoned the vessel into a lifeboat, and no environmental impact was reported.
ATTACK/ 19th JULY
A Malta-flagged tanker caught fire 8nm northwest of Kumzar, Oman, after being struck by an unknown projectile, and the crew abandoned ship. Open sources report Iran subsequently seized the drifting vessel and towed it into its territorial waters.
STRIKE/ 19th JULY
A vessel was struck by an unknown projectile 17nm east of Dibba in the UAE, damaging its steering gear. All crew were safe and no pollution was reported.
EUROPE
ATTACK / 23-24th JULY
A Liberia-flagged cargo vessel carrying coal to Ukraine was attacked and damaged overnight within Romania's Exclusive Economic Zone. The vessel transmitted a distress signal, prompting a search and rescue vessels and helicopter.
UAV STRIKE / 21-22nd JULY
Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck ten cargo ships in the Black Sea over 21–22 July. Separate units hit an oil tanker in the Sea of Azov and two tugboats in the Black Sea.
AERIAL STRIKES / 21st JULY
A Panama-flagged cargo ship was struck by a UAV as it left Odesa, then hit by a missile three hours later. One cargo hold and hatch cover were damaged, but all twenty-two crew were unhurt and the vessel continued under her own power.
UAV STRIKE / 21st JULY
An explosion occurred aboard a Liberia-flagged tanker 20nm southeast of Sfântu Gheorghe, outside Romanian territorial waters. Romanian rescue vessels evacuated the entire crew ashore, and unverified reports suggest a UAV strike.
SEIZURE / 20th JULY
EUNAVFOR MED IRINI boarded a sanctioned product tanker in the Western Mediterranean over suspected fraudulent flag registration. The vessel was inspected and allowed to proceed.
ATTACK / 20th JULY
A Cameroon-flagged tanker was struck on its starboard aft at the CPC terminal SPM-1 off Novorossiysk, igniting a fire between the accommodation block and engine room. Twenty-two crew were evacuated onto tugs, the fire was extinguished within hours, and no spill was reported.
STRIKES / 19th JULY
Ukrainian forces struck eleven vessels described as part of Russia's shadow fleet across the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. The tally comprised five cargo ships, five oil tankers and one floating crane.
STRIKE / 19th JULY
A Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo vessel was struck by three Russian cruise missiles off Odesa. Five crew were killed and five reported missing, eight were hospitalised, and the vessel later sank.
UAV STRIKE / 19th JULY
Two tankers were struck by UAVs while loading at the CPC terminal SPM-1 off Novorossiysk. A fire aboard the Liberia-flagged vessel was extinguished, the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker escaped serious damage, and loading was suspended for several hours.
CASPIAN SEA
STRIKE/ 25th JULY
Ukraine struck vessels it says carry military cargo between Iran and Russia, along with a Russian warship. An Iranian commercial ship exploded and one person was killed, prompting Tehran to summon Ukraine's chargé d'affaires.
CARIBBEAN SEA
PETTY THEFT/ 23rd JULY
A theft was reported aboard a merchant vessel. No other information is currently available.
Operational Guidance
Operators should:
Watch for Air & Sea Projectiles: Maintain lookouts for UAVs, missiles, and USVs across the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Gulf of Oman, and Red Sea.
Comply with Blockade Enforcement: Hormuz remains open under US escort; do not run the blockade on Iranian ports. US forces disabled one non-compliant vessel.
Treat Saudi Red Sea Calls as High Risk: Houthis declared a blockade of Saudi Arabia and struck Jazan; armed skiffs shadowed shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb.
Prioritise Damage Control over Deterrence: Armed guards cannot repel missiles. Bring firefighting, boundary cooling, and abandon-ship readiness to peak state.
Monitor Urgent Military Broadcasts: Maintain constant watch on VHF Channel 16 for strike reports and navigation bans, and track UKMTO and MSCIO updates.
Threat Outlook
Region | Threat Level | Assessment |
Caribbean Sea | Low | Low-level piracy threats are a possibility in these waters. |
Caspian Sea | High | Frequent Ukrainian strikes targeting energy infrastructure, and military cargo shipments between Russia and Iran. |
Europe | Very High | Risks in the Black Sea have peaked again, as both Russia and Ukraine launch large scale, region-wide, strikes. All commercial shipping is a target for subsea, surface and aerial drones, including in coastal areas. |
Gulf of Guinea | Low | Low-level piracy threats are a constant element in this area. |
Red Sea | High | The Houthis have officially entered the Iran conflict, announcing a blockade of the Red Sea and striking multiple tankers, along with Jazan Aramco facilities, over the course of a few days. |
Strait of Hormuz | Very High | The Hormuz conflict has entered new escalations as military exchanges between the US and Iran have reached new heights. Meanwhile, the blockade enforcement by both parties has transitioned to kinetic strikes. |
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