Maritime Security Report: 5–12 January 2026

Shadow fleet seizures, drone warfare in the Black Sea, and crew kidnappings in West Africa

This reporting period recorded nine serious maritime security incidents across the Caribbean, Black Sea, Gulf of Guinea and Southeast Asia. Events ranged from state-led tanker seizures to drone strikes on civilian shipping and a crew kidnapping off Gabon, underlining the growing complexity of the global threat environment.

Executive Summary

Key trends this week:

• Caribbean Sea – US forces intensified their crackdown on Venezuela’s shadow fleet, seizing three oil tankers, including Marinera (formerly Bella 1) after a prolonged pursuit.

• Black Sea – Russia and Ukraine exchanged UAV and USV strikes on ports and merchant vessels, killing and injuring crew members.

• Gulf of Guinea – Nine crew kidnapped from a Chinese fishing vessel off Gabon, confirming continued offshore piracy capability.

• Southeast Asia – Armed robbers boarded a towed barge in the Singapore Strait, stealing scrap metal.

Threat levels remain high across multiple regions, with increasing state involvement in maritime enforcement actions.

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Key Incidents by Region

Gulf of Guinea – Crew Kidnapped Off Gabon

11 January 2026

A Chinese fishing vessel was boarded approximately 7nm southwest of Ekwata, Gabon, while underway between Port Gentil and Libreville.

• Nine crew members kidnapped

  
  

  • Five Chinese nationals

  • Four Indonesian nationals

  
  

• Attackers forced their way onboard and abducted crew

• The vessel was later escorted to Libreville by Gabonese naval forces

• Three crew remained onboard and were unharmed

This incident confirms that pirate groups remain capable of operating offshore, with kidnapping-for-ransom tactics persisting.

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Black Sea – Drone Warfare Escalates

UAV Strikes on Ukrainian Ports

7 January 2026

Russian forces conducted UAV attacks on Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi ports, damaging:

• Port infrastructure

• Administrative buildings

• Vegetable oil storage tanks

• One fatality

• Eight injured

• Ports remain operational

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Drone Attacks on Merchant Vessels

9 January 2026

Two civilian ships were struck:

• Wael K (St Kitts & Nevis flag) – en route to load grain

• Ladonna (Comoros flag) – carrying soybeans

Casualties:

• One Syrian crew member killed

• One injured

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USV Strike on Oil Tanker

7 January 2026

Ukraine hit the Palau-flagged tanker Elbus with a maritime USV drone while en route to Russia.

• Vessel signalled damage

• Crew reported safe

• Diverted to Turkish anchorage

These incidents highlight the growing risk to neutral commercial shipping in conflict zones

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Caribbean Sea – Shadow Fleet Seizures

US forces conducted three major tanker seizures:

MT Olina

• False-flagged (Timor-Leste)

• Seized off Trinidad & Tobago

• Part of Venezuela’s shadow fleet

• Laden with oil at time of seizure

Marinera (formerly Bella 1)

• Russian-flagged

• Seized after multi-week pursuit

• Operation conducted in the GIUK gap

• Vessel was escorted by:

  
  

  • Russian attack submarine

  • Baltic Fleet warships

  
  

M Sophia

• Panama-flagged

• Declared a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet” vessel

• Escorted to the US for disposition

These actions confirm that sanctions enforcement remains aggressive and global.

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Singapore Strait – Armed Robbery

5 January 2026

• Barge towed by Singapore-flagged tug

• Boarded in the eastbound TSS lane

• Several perpetrators sighted

• Scrap metal stolen

• All crew safe

This follows a consistent pattern of attacks on slow-moving vessels in the region

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Threat Outlook

Region	Threat Level	Assessment
Gulf of Guinea	High	Kidnapping persists offshore
Black Sea	High	UAV & USV strikes continue
Caribbean	Elevated	State seizures escalating
Southeast Asia	Moderate–High	Armed robberies ongoing

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Operational Guidance

Operators should:

• Enforce BMP-MS procedures

• Increase deck patrols and lighting

• Harden access points

• Maintain SSAS readiness

• Report all incidents to:

  
  

  • UKMTO

  • MDAT-GoG

  • ReCAAP

  • IMB / IMO

  
  

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