Maritime Security Report: 7th - 13th September 2026
This week saw twenty-one incidents globally, including: Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Caspian Sea, Gulf of Guinea, Red Sea, and Strait of Hormuz.
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Major Incidents Include:
CARIBBEAN SEA:
Continued US Counter-Narcotics Strikes: A further strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel killed three people, continuing the ongoing US campaign against trafficking targets in the region.
EUROPE:
Black Sea: Sustained Bilateral Strikes on Ports & Vessels: Russian and Ukrainian forces continued trading strikes on cargo vessels, patrol boats, tugboats, and port infrastructure at Chornomorsk, Sevastopol, and Novorossiysk, with casualties reported among crew in at least two separate incidents.
Caspian Sea: Emerging Ukrainian Reach Into New Territory: A Ukrainian strike on Russia's Makhachkala port marks a notable geographic expansion of the conflict into the Caspian Sea, targeting oil infrastructure.
RED SEA:
Major Strategic Shift as Houthis Seize Full Coastline: The Houthis' capture of Yemen's entire Red Sea coast and effective control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait represents a significant escalation in territorial control over one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints.
STRAIT OF HORMUZ:
Intensifying US-Iran Conflict & Mass Tanker Casualties: A wave of projectile and drone strikes disabled or destroyed numerous tankers — including a fatal attack on the Hercules Star and the US destruction of five Iranian-linked tankers — marking the corridor's most violent stretch yet.
Red Sea:
13 September / Takeover
The Houthis completed their takeover of Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline, capturing Mocha and the strategic island of Perim and gaining effective control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, triggering a surge of refugees fleeing to Djibouti.
Indonesia:
7 September / Burglary
Four unauthorized persons boarded an anchored bulk carrier at Jakarta Anchorage, Indonesia, stealing engine spares before fleeing in a small wooden boat after the alarm was raised.
13 September / Capsizing
The Indonesian-flagged Ro-Ro ferry Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea while sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, leaving six dead and around 130 people missing despite 107 rescued so far.
Gulf of Guinea:
10 September / Conflict
A merchant vessel was fired upon in the Gulf of Guinea's Southern Niger Delta; no further details have been released.
Gulf of Aden:
10 September / Piracy
The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged bulker Glamor was approached by an armed boat with roughly six people off Yemen, prompting the crew to shelter in the citadel; a search later confirmed no pirates remained aboard, and all crew were reported safe.
Caribbean:
9 September / Strike
US forces struck a suspected drug-smuggling go-fast vessel in the Caribbean, killing three people, in the first such strike of September.
Strait of Hormuz:
8 September / Strike
US forces destroyed five Iranian-linked crude oil tankers — Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1, and Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, and Derya near Kharg Island — in a second round of retaliatory strikes after the IRGC twice targeted a US warship with ballistic missiles.
9 September / War Risk
UKMTO reported a merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz subject to an interaction as part of ongoing military activity in the region; investigations remain ongoing.
9 September / War Risk
several merchant vessels in the Northern Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman subject to disabling fire amid ongoing military activity; casualties and environmental impact remained unconfirmed.
9 September / Strikes
The Gibraltar-flagged tanker Hercules Star was struck by an unknown projectile at anchor off Dubai, UAE, leaving one crew member dead and another missing, while the vessel was also reported listing amid suspected water ingress.
9 September / Strike
A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile 28NM southeast of Al-Faw, Iraq; the crew were reported safe with no environmental impact.
9 September / Strike
An Indonesian-flagged firefighting vessel was damaged by an unidentified projectile approximately 20NM east of Al Saffaniyah, Saudi Arabia; the crew were reported safe.
9 September / Drone Strike
The Panama-flagged tanker New Andros was struck by a drone in Iraqi territorial waters, sparking a fire while carrying about 2 million barrels of fuel oil; all 22 crew were reported
safe.
10 September / Strike
Two vessels were struck by four unknown projectiles 4NM west of Khasab, Oman, setting one ablaze while the status of the second remained unknown.
13 September / Strike
A vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a fire that prompted a crew evacuation; damage and environmental impact remain unknown.
Europe:
7 September / UAV Strike
A cargo vessel was struck by a Russian UAV overnight at Chornomorsk port, Ukraine, with Moscow claiming it was carrying military cargo; no details on casualties or damage have been confirmed.
8 September / Attack
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian Project 12150 Mangust patrol boat in Kozacha Bay, Sevastopol, Crimea, as part of a wider overnight campaign against Russian military infrastructure, drone facilities, and ammunition depots across occupied territories.
8 September / UAV Strike
A Somali-flagged tugboat came under repeated UAV attacks while sailing from Odesa toward Constanta, Romania, killing two Azerbaijani crew members and injuring two others.
9 September / Fire
A fuel storage tank holding roughly 37,000 cubic metres of oil products caught fire at the Novorossiysk Fuel Oil Terminal following an overnight drone attack, with debris falling near residential and commercial buildings.
10 September / Strike
Ukrainian forces struck the Makhachkala Sea Commercial Port on Russia's Caspian coast, targeting oil infrastructure and sparking a fire whose extent is still being assessed.
12 September / UAV Strike
Russian UAVs struck two cargo vessels, a tug, and port infrastructure at Chornomorsk port, Ukraine, overnight; casualties among crew were reported, though exact numbers remain unclear.
Operational Guidance
Operators should:
Watch for Air & Sea Projectiles: Maintain sharp lookouts for long-range UAVs, cruise missiles, and USVs across the Black Sea. Use increased caution when navigating Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Comply with Chokepoint Closures: Avoid entering the Strait of Hormuz due to unilateral state closures and active military engagement, unless explicitly authorized.
Deploy Maximum Active Deterrence: Ensure onboard security details are at peak readiness to repel state-level aggression and kinetic strikes in high-risk zones.
Monitor Urgent Military Broadcasts: Maintain constant watch on VHF Channel 16 for sudden navigation bans, and track emergency UKMTO, and MSCIO updates.
Threat Outlook
Region | Threat Level | Assessment |
Black Sea (incl. Caspian Sea) | High | Russian and Ukrainian forces continued trading strikes on cargo vessels, patrol boats, and port infrastructure, with confirmed crew casualties in two incidents. A Ukrainian strike on Russia's Caspian coast also signals the conflict's geographic expansion into new territory. |
Indonesia | Medium-High | A minor theft-related boarding was overshadowed by the ferry Virgo Transport 8 capsizing, leaving six dead and roughly 130 missing. The high casualty toll from this single disaster outweighs its low frequency. |
Red Sea | Extremely High | The Houthis completed their takeover of Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline and gained effective control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a major strategic escalation rather than an isolated incident. This represents a structural shift in control over a critical global chokepoint, not just a one-off attack. |
Strait of Hormuz (incl. Gulf of Aden) | Extremely High | A wave of strikes disabled or destroyed numerous tankers — including a fatal attack on the Hercules Star and the US destruction of five Iranian-linked vessels — alongside a piracy scare off Yemen. This marks the corridor's most violent and volatile stretch yet, with near-daily incidents across multiple sub-areas. |
Caribbean | Low | The only incident was a targeted US strike on a suspected trafficking vessel, not a threat to commercial shipping broadly. Risk to general maritime traffic in the region remains minimal. |
Gulf of Guinea | Low | A single vessel was fired upon in the Niger Delta with no further details released. The isolated, under-reported nature of the incident points to low but persistent background risk rather than escalation. |
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