Loss Prevention Advice
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The threat to commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea is intensifying, with shipowners, operators and masters facing a growing arsenal of potential attacks, from armed skiffs and drones to anti-ship missiles.
Anew marine security advisory from the Liberia Maritime Authority warns that multiple vessels making innocent passage through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have come under threat or attack in recent months. In several incidents, vessels have been targeted by missiles launched from drones, while others have been ordered to alter course and head towards Yemen.
The range of threats is widening. Anti-ship and ballistic missiles, water-borne improvised explosive devices and drones are among the weapons identified in the advisory. Mines have also been deployed off Yemen’s coast, with some reportedly breaking free from their moorings and drifting into established shipping lanes.
There have also been reports of unmanned underwater vehicles operating in the region, although no vessel has so far been attacked by such devices.
Yemen coastline remains high-risk area
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Over the past week, 1-7 September, one incident of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia.
The incident occurred onboard a work vessel while was under towed by a tugboat in South China Sea on 2 September 2026. There were no crew onboard at the time of the incident, but some items of ship stores were stolen.
Area of concern
Ships are advised to intensify vigilance and maintain sharp look-out while transiting the areas of concern or anchoring at ports and anchorages; and to report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State. The Centre also urges the coastal States to increase patrols/surveillance in their respective waters, respond promptly to incidents reported to them, strengthen coordination and promote information sharing on incidents and the criminal groups involved to arrest the perpetrators.
Situation of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes seas and waters off Eastern Sabah
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Drawing attention to the often-overlooked risks that non-compliant wood packaging material (WPM) can pose to international cargo shipments.
In a new guidance paper, IUMI examines the insurance implications of failing to comply with International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15), the international standard governing the use of wood packaging such as pallets, crates and dunnage in global trade.
Under ISPM 15, non-compliant wood packaging can be detained, destroyed or rejected at the border by the importing country, regardless of the condition of the cargo it contains.
For marine cargo insurers, the main exposure is often not physical loss or damage to the insured goods, but the operational and financial disruption that can result from a regulatory rejection. These consequences can include cargo detention, emergency fumigation or re-treatment, repacking, destruction or replacement of packaging, as well as delays and related contractual penalties.
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The carriage of steel cargoes is frequently associated with cargo claims, often involving allegations of rust, mechanical damage, indentation, bending, contamination or other defects arising during the voyage. In some cases, however, such damage may have been present before the cargo was loaded.
As explained by Petar Modev, Head of Ship Inspections, UK Club, a properly conducted pre-loading steel survey can help establish the apparent condition of the cargo before shipment and support an accurate description of its condition in the relevant shipping documents.
Objectives of a pre-load steel survey