Maritime Security Report: 29th June-5th July 2026

This week saw eight incidents globally, including the Black Sea, Gulf of Finland, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, Southeast Asia, and Strait of Hormuz. 

The GOLDEN ARSENAL was successfully boarded in a suspected piracy attack.

Major Incidents Include:

EUROPE:

UAV Campaign Against Energy & Naval Infrastructure: Ukrainian forces executed a series of long-range UAV strikes targeting critical Russian maritime and energy hubs across the Baltic and Black Seas. Attacks successfully hit the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, the Kronstadt Naval Base, and the Port of Vysotsk in the north, following a prior drone strike on the Sheskharis oil-loading complex at Novorossiysk Port.

GULF OF ADEN:

Armed Piracy Resurgence: A pirate group equipped with RPGs boarded a cargo ship, causing bridge damage, and chased two other vessels off Yemen and Somalia.

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SOUTHEAST ASIA:

Anchorage Theft: Robbers boarded an anchored bulk carrier undetected at Bahodopi Anchorage, Indonesia, stealing ship properties before escaping. RED SEA: Skiff Attack Repelled: An armed skiff opened fire on a bulk carrier southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, but was forced to retreat after the vessel returned fire.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ:

Vessel Grounding: A container ship ran aground after deviating from the designated shipping lane into shallow Iranian waters. 

RED SEA

ATTACK / 5th JULY

A bulk carrier was ATTACKED 30NM southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. It was approached by one skiff which CLOSED WITHIN 20 METERS AND OPENED FIRE. The armed security team onboard returned fire and deterred the skiff which proceeded to flee to its mothership vessel located 2NM away with AIS switched off. The vessel and crew is reported safe. 

GULF OF ADEN

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY / 1st JULY

Balhaf, Yemen. The Master reported that a small craft approached the vessel on the port quarter at 2NM, describing the small craft as having a low free-board and orange interior with four people on board. The small craft since left the vicinity PROCEEDING FURTHER SOUTH. 

BOARDING / 1st JULY

The Saint Vincent and Grenadines-flagged cargo vessel Golden Arsenal, was APPROACHED by multiple small crafts carrying ARMED POB, while underway in the IRTC.

Upon spotting the threat, the Master stopped the ship, activated distress alerts, enabled AIS, and ordered all members to retreat into the citadel.

The armed assailants SUCCESFULLY BOARDED the vessel using rigged ladders, DAMAGING the bridge and several adjacent compartments.

Third-party vessels nearby reported hearing SMALL ARMS FIRE over VHF channel 16, but this remains unconfirmed.

The crew successfully retook full operational control and resumed navigation upon the departure of the pirates. 

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STRAITS OF HORMOUS

1st of JULY

Open-sources have reported that a containership has RUN AGROUND in the Strait of Hormuz, after deviating from the designated shipping route and entering shallow waters. This highlights ONGOING NAVIGATIONAL CHALLENGES present in the SoH with two competing passages. 

SOUTH EAST ASIA

ROBBERY / 29th JUNE

Reports indicate that ROBBERS BOARDED the anchored bulk carrier, Maria D, unnoticed at Bahodopi Anchorage, Indonesia. The robbers ESCAPED WITH STOLEN SHIP’S PROPERTIES. No further details regarding the incident have been reported. 

EUROPE

4th July

Open-sources indicate that Ukraine has launched a UAV STRIKE targeting St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, a petroleum transshipment pier 5 miles from the city-centre. Additionally, an IMPORTANT MILITARY ASSET WAS STRUCK overnight in Kronstadt, a nearby naval base. Both Russian military and St. Petersburg officials CONFIRMED HITS but the casualties and damage remains unknown. 30 June 2026 Ukrainian Armed Forces laun 

4th July

Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a large, COORDINATED LONG-RANGE UAV CAMPAIGN targeting the Port of Vysotsk, a major Baltic transshipment hub handling critical Russian exports including oil, LNG, coal and grain 105 miles northwest of St. Petersburg. Officials reported that Russian air defenses DOWNED 72 DRONES. Russian sources reported no casualties, whilst falling drone debris was recorded in the immediate vicinity. This was part of a broader, synchronised wave that struck the St Petersburg 

30th June

Open-sources reported that Ukrainian forces performed a DRONE STRIKE on Novorossiysk Port, Russia. Residents reported EXPLOSIONS and Russian air defence activity throughout the night of 29-30 June. Novorossiysk is the southern terminus of Russia’s main oil export pipelines and homme to the Sheskharis complex (the largest oil-loading facility in southern Russia). 

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Operational Guidance

Operators should:

• Watch for Drones & Explosives: Maintain sharp lookouts for long-range UAVs and military projectiles across the Black and Baltic Sea regions.

• Anti-Piracy & Port Watches: Activate comprehensive BMP-MS and citadel readiness in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea to counter RPG-equipped pirate groups.

• Mitigate Anchorage & Navigation Risks: Enforce strict deck watches at Southeast Asian anchorages to deter theft, and maintain precise navigation in straits to avoid grounding.

• Deploy Active Deterrence: Ensure onboard armed security teams are fully prepared to return fire and repel close-quarter skiff attacks in high-risk zones.

• Monitor Security Broadcasts: Maintain a continuous watch on VHF Channel 16 and closely track urgent UKMTO and MSCIO updates.

Threat Outlook

Region	Threat Level	Assessment
Europe	Very High	The Black Sea remains highly dangerous for commercial shipping as a target for subsea, surface and aerial drones, including in coastal areas. Vessels traversing the Baltic sea route to Russia, also seem to have elevated risk.
Gulf of Aden	Medium	Threats from Somali PAGs have ticked up this week, posing a real risk for any passing vessels. No confirmed hijacking has taken place in recent weeks yet.
Red Sea	Medium	Somali PAGs have demonstrated the range and capabilities to strike deep into the Red Sea. One suspicious approach was reported describing the Somali modus operandus. Caution is advised.
Southeast Asia	Low	Petty theft and robberies are a consistent theme in the Singapore Strait and surrounding waters.
Strait of Hormuz	High	The Hormuz conflict remains turbulent, posing both military risks to shipping, and navigational hazards.