Update 26 March 2026
Gulf Region: Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea
Recent developments in the Gulf region and the Red Sea continue to create significant challenges for commercial shipping. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing military activity, restrictions on transit in key waterways, and increased navigational hazards. Skuld continues to monitor developments closely and provides the following updated assessment for members.
Strait of Hormuz
Current situation
According to recent assessments, including the Risk Intelligence Middle East Weekly Report (25 March 2026), the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted. While Iranian authorities publicly deny that the strait is closed to navigation, commercial traffic has diminished significantly, with many vessels waiting in the Qeshm/Bandar Abbas concentration area or diverting their routes altogether.
GNSS interference, VHF challenges from Iranian units, and intermittent strikes have contributed to unpredictable navigational conditions.
Selective transit and potential fees
Multiple reputable sources - including Lloyd’s List, Bloomberg, and further corroborated in Risk Intelligence’s analysis - have reported instances where certain vessels have transited the Strait of Hormuz only after undergoing a vetting or screening process with Iranian authorities. Several of these reports indicate ad‑hoc payments connected to such transit arrangements. These practices appear informal, selective, and not codified, and there is currently no published fee schedule from Iran.
Risk Intelligence further assesses that Iran is likely seeking to formalise a new Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) and potentially a fee‑based passage structure, reflecting an attempt to regulate and monetise transits in a manner inconsistent with longstanding navigational conventions.
Compliance considerations
Members are reminded that engaging in any payment, facilitation, or contractual arrangement involving entities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may expose them to sanctions under US, EU, and UK regimes. Any solicitation for payment should be treated with extreme caution and escalated immediately to the flag state, insurers, and legal advisors.
Official position of the Iranian authorities
A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran (March 2026) confirms that Iran does not consider the Strait of Hormuz closed, asserting that navigation continues "in compliance with measures arising from the state of belligerency." The statement distinguishes between:
- "Aggressor" vessels (United States, Israel, and states cooperating with their operations), which Iran states do not qualify for normal or non‑hostile passage and may be subject to restrictive or enforcement measures; and
- "Non‑hostile" vessels, which may continue to transit the strait in coordination with Iranian authorities and provided they comply with declared security measures.
Iran also stresses that any maritime safety or security arrangements in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Sea of Oman must respect Iranian sovereignty and be coordinated with its authorities.
International guidance
The US MARAD 2026‑004 advisory continues to urge vessels not to follow diversion instructions from unknown or unverified sources and to maintain contact with UKMTO and NAVCENT/NCAGS when operating in the region.
The IMO Council has also called for international coordination on safe navigation in the area, though such arrangements remain politically sensitive given Iran's stated expectations.
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
Threat environment
Although the Houthis have not resumed attacks since the start of the current Iran–US–Israel confrontation, the threat level in the southern Red Sea and western Gulf of Aden remains elevated. The group retains the capability to strike vessels with aerial drones, naval drones, and missiles. Misidentification risks persist, particularly for vessels with historical links to Israel or the United States. The group retains the capability to deploy missiles, aerial drones, and naval drone systems.
Maritime traffic remains significantly reduced at 40-50% compared with pre‑2023 levels, and insurance premiums and charterer requirements continue to influence transit decisions.
Allegations of "safe passage" payments
Several media outlets have referenced allegations (including discussions within a UN Panel of Experts report) that certain vessels may have made covert payments to secure passage through Houthi‑controlled waters. These claims remain unverified, and the Houthis have formally denied charging vessels for transit.
No flag state, naval authority, or international body has confirmed the existence of a formal payment mechanism.
Members should treat any such report or solicitation as a high‑risk compliance matter, potentially involving exposure to terrorism‑financing legislation across multiple jurisdictions.
Operational considerations
- Navigation systems
Widespread GNSS interference continues to affect both the Strait of Hormuz and parts of the Red Sea. Vessels should be prepared for degraded electronic navigation and maintain enhanced situational awareness. - AIS transmission
Risk Intelligence emphasises that there is no evidence that switching off AIS improves safety. On the contrary, maintaining AIS in accordance with SOLAS and flag‑state guidance remains the recommended practice unless directed otherwise by competent authorities. In many cases, AIS deactivation may hinder response and complicate identification following an incident. - Misidentification risk
Small craft, including fishing vessels, coastguard units, and smuggling craft, are frequently mistaken for hostile actors. Caution should be exercised when assessing intent in congested or ambiguous situations. - Emergency preparedness
Given the risk of missile or drone strikes and collateral damage, crews should be prepared to implement emergency procedures, including fire‑fighting, damage control, and communication with military authorities.
Recommended actions for members
- Refrain from engaging with any party requesting payment, tolls, or facilitation fees connected to transit in the Strait of Hormuz or the Red Sea.
- Immediately report any such approach to the flag state, UKMTO, NAVCENT/NCAGS, and consult with a legal advisor.
- Conduct voyage‑specific risk assessments and ensure charterers are informed of the current operating environment.
- Monitor official maritime security advisories and notices as they are updated.
- Consult Skuld for guidance on cover implications, sanctions exposure, and operational risk.
Conclusion
The maritime security situation in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea remains highly dynamic. The emergence of informal or ad‑hoc payment arrangements, combined with sustained military activity and navigation hazards, presents significant operational and compliance risks for commercial shipping. Skuld will continue to closely follow developments and keep members updated.
Update 16 March 2026
Gulf Region
Advisory hardens, Mine‑threat reporting rises, Traffic still suppressed
Fresh official guidance and new reporting continue to shape how operators plan for operations in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Maritime Administration has issued Advisory 2026-004, which reinforces that the risk of Iranian attacks against commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman remains high and outlines practical conduct at sea. Masters are told to keep at least 30 nm clear of US naval units to avoid misidentification, to expect and cooperate with coalition awareness calls, queries and approaches, and to coordinate closely with NAVCENT NCAGS before, during and after transits. MARAD also warns against complying with over-the-horizon VHF or email “instructions” from Iranian forces. If such contacts occur, vessels should continue safely on track, log the encounter, and inform NCAGS. The advisory underlines that GNSS spoofing/jamming persists across the operating area and should be treated as a standing navigational hazard.
Against this backdrop, open‑source reporting on mine activity has intensified. MarineInsight carried statements that US forces destroyed Iranian minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz and suggested that a limited number of mines may have been laid, claims that are already influencing insurer and naval posture.
At the same time, industry‑facing threat summaries have not verified an operational minefield: the latest Joint Maritime Information Center update notes no confirmation of mining in the Strait of Hormuz as of 15 March, even as it keeps the regional risk level at CRITICAL, cites widespread GNSS interference, and records very limited cargo transits through the strait in the latest 24‑hour window.
Risk Intelligence adopts a similar balance in its 11 March weekly report, observing that mine reports stem from official statements rather than independent confirmation, and stressing that Iran can and does achieve interdiction by missiles, UAVs and USVs - a combination that has effectively kept Hormuz shut by behaviour and enforcement rather than by declared closure. On that basis, shipowners and operators should treat the Strait of Hormuz as a potential mine hazard pending confirmation, while recognising that the current kinetic and electronic threat set alone is sufficient to suppress transits and keep ships clustered around UAE‑Oman approaches.
Operationally, the environment remains degraded. JMIC’s latest snapshot describes heavily suppressed Strait of Hormuz flows - with AIS‑derived counts in the single‑digit range over the past day - and a dense concentration of vessels waiting at anchor or alongside around Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and adjacent ports. That congestion, coupled with spoofed positions, AIS anomalies and intermittent comms, increases routine collision and dragging risk and demands conservative bridge resource management and deliberate cross‑checking of every fix by radar, visual bearings, echo‑sounder trends and parallel indexing. Even for ships that are not attempting the Strait of Hormuz, the advisory picture now presumes persistent electronic unreliability and urges masters to verify any unexpected routing claims via recognised naval channels rather than ad hoc VHF chatter.
For members, the immediate implications are practical and documentary rather than theoretical. If a vessel is held in port or prevented from leaving due to security directives, agent notices, pilotage suspensions, or credible mine‑risk precautions, keep a contemporaneous file that ties war‑risk causes to operational consequences (naval and port emails, logs, VHF recordings, ECDIS/VDR screenshots). That record supports discussions with war‑risk leaders and brokers and potentially mitigates later disputes about causation and duration should loss‑of‑hire or related provisions be engaged. Meanwhile, at sea, align conduct with MARAD 2026‑004 even if not US‑flag - maintain distance from naval units, anticipate coalition queries, do not comply with hostile over‑the‑horizon hails, and keep NAVCENT NCAGS in the loop from voyage planning through any anomaly reporting.
In this phase, plan on the basis that a safe Strait of Hormuz passage cannot be assumed, that GNSS/AIS data may be unreliable, and that crew exposure remains the foremost risk driver. Treat the strait as a potential mine hazard pending confirmation until credible sanitisation or escort protocols are promulgated; route conservatively, avoid loitering in named high‑risk boxes and congested anchorages, and sustain disciplined UKMTO/MSCIO reporting alongside your NCAGS dialogue. Where commercial imperatives clash with navigational prudence, document your reasoning thoroughly; it strengthens both cover and defensibility if an incident occurs.
Update 6 March 2026
Gulf Region
Emirates Shipping Association - Member Advisory (4 March)
The Association has published a member advisory on 4 March, which reports that UAE ports remain largely functional:
Jebel Ali (all four terminals), Hamriya, Sharjah, Fujairah/Khor Fakkan, RAK Ports, and AD Ports facilities are open; Ruwais/Abu Dhabi petroleum ports are at ISPS Level 2 (others Level 1).
Two FOIZ fires adjacent to Fujairah were contained, and operations resumed. Fujairah Navigational Warning 01/2026 notes intermittent GPS spoofing/jamming offshore, and RAK Ports are not accepting Iranian registered vessels/barges or cargo originating from Iran under current directives.
Maritime intelligence updates
Dryad highlights ballistic/drone impacts on Gulf aviation and port linked infrastructure, driving airspace closures and operational friction. It assesses potential sea mine use as the most plausible escalation tool at Strait of Hormuz - effective mainly through uncertainty and clearance delays, even with limited numbers.
Whereas Risk Intelligence judges Strait of Hormuz as "effectively closed" by behaviour and enforcement, they note increased USV use as a cost-efficient strike option and recommends contingencies of up to a month for vessels stuck inside/outside the Gulf. Practical steps include anchoring ≥ 3 nm from energy or military sites and keeping distance from warships unless under direct protection, given collateral damage risk. It also reports no fresh Houthi maritime resumption as of 4 March, while warning that Red Sea coupling remains possible.
GNSS interference is now a persistent operating condition as identified by Lloyd’s List Intelligence in their report of 4 March. Since the start of hostilities, 655 cargo‑carrying ships have experienced 1,735 GNSS interference events across the Middle East Gulf/Gulf of Oman (typical 3–4 hour duration), with daily incidents doubling to ~672 by 2 March and hotspots clustering off the UAE and south of Iran/near Oman. Consequently, analysts expect interference to outlast the missile exchanges, making degraded GNSS a planning baseline.
Routing and ports - what current behaviour and status mean for voyages
Updated analysis shows the present halt of transit through the Strait of Hormuz is operator‑led: Hormuz transits fell by > 80% on 1–2 March versus prior baselines, with no LNG and virtually no crude passages in the immediate aftermath - confirming that risk appetite, not a legal proclamation, is governing flows.
Regional snapshots also continue to show most ports open, with discrete constraints shaping feasibility: Bahrain movements suspended; in Oman, Duqm and Salalah GCTs suspended (while Salalah CT, Sohar, Sur, Muscat remain operational); and Kuwait is redirecting containers to Shuwaikh.
Update 4 March 2026
The Wider Gulf Region
Since yesterday’s note, two developments now shape day‑to‑day feasibility for Gulf trades. First, the insurance baseline has shifted: the Joint War Committee has expanded its Listed Areas, which typically drives higher additional premiums and tighter voyage terms when approaching or operating inside the re‑defined box.
Second, while there is still no legal closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the operating picture has hardened - transit is now discouraged by naval advisory channels, traffic is clustering at a handful of anchorages and ports, and a USV strike plus a fatality alongside in Bahrain add new detail to the recent incident set.
Together, these changes turn caution into active constraints on routing and port calls, with knock‑on effects for crew logistics and schedule integrity.
Joint War Committee Listed Areas: JWC JWLA‑033 (3 March)
The Joint War Committee has added Bahrain, Djibouti, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar to its Hull War, Piracy, Terrorism and Related Perils Listed Areas, and amended the boundaries of the broader Persian/Arabian Gulf – Gulf of Oman – Indian Ocean – Gulf of Aden – Southern Red Sea area. While application is policy‑by‑policy, listings typically result in additional premiums and stricter terms for calls/transits within the defined waters.
Strait of Hormuz: Transit discouraged and traffic clustering
MSCIO Advisory 01/2026 – Update 04 (3 March) states that, although passage remains legally permissible, transit is presently discouraged. Masters are advised to maximise distance from naval units, expect GNSS unreliability, and maintain VHF 16 watch. MSCIO also reports dense clustering of merchant vessels at Jebel Ali, Dubai, Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, the eastern Strait of Hormuz TSS, and into the eastern Gulf of Oman/Northern Arabian Sea, which elevates routine navigation risk under interference and congestion.
JMIC estimates daily Hormuz transits at the low point may have fallen to ~28, an ~80% reduction from a historical daily average near 138 - a function of operator decisions rather than a promulgated legal closure.
Risk Intelligence Client Briefing: Operational notes for Gulf trades (2 March)
Risk Intelligence reports uneven port conditions from debris and direct strikes and flags airspace restrictions complicating crew changes. As a straightforward mitigation near energy hubs or military activity, they advise anchoring ≥ 3 nm off major ports. RI expects continued pressure on energy infrastructure, key ports and US‑linked facilities, and suggests tracking four indicators for medium‑range planning: Iranian missile stockpiles, internal regime cohesion, political pressure on the US presidency, and Asian buyers’ tolerance for disruption.
As a practical safety baseline, we encourage shipowners and operators to make conservative routing choices, avoid prolonged holding near chokepoints, and treat any transit of the Strait of Hormuz approaches as exceptional while naval channels continue to discourage passage. Maintain disciplined UKMTO/MSCIO reporting throughout, keep a continuous VHF 16 watch, and assume GNSS/AIS unreliability - cross‑check position fixes by radar and visual bearings, and retain VDR/ECDIS screenshots and log extracts whenever anomalies occur. Before firming port calls, verify status locally with agents and be prepared to adjust for temporary restrictions or pilotage requirements. Finally, plan with crew welfare in mind - allow for airspace‑related crew‑change constraints, keep rest hours protected during congestion delays, and elevate bridge manning in confined waters or poor electronic conditions.
Update 3 March 2026
The Wider Gulf Region: Maritime security update
Since yesterday, several merchant vessels were struck in or near the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz. In the latest Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) update the following incidents have been reported:
- SKYLIGHT (IMO 9330020) was reported hit about 5 nm north of Khasab (Oman) with four crew injuries and an evacuation.
- MKD VYOM (IMO 9284386) suffered a projectile strike above the waterline with a fire brought under control.
- An attack on SEA LA DONNA (IMO 9380532) is under investigation.
These incidents mark a shift from warnings to confirmed damage on multiple ships over the last 24–48 hours.
Dryad Global has also assessed that sea mines remain a credible escalation option for Iran because even limited, quickly laid fields can produce disproportionate disruption in a narrow lane such as Hormuz - largely by eroding confidence and forcing slower, controlled movements, as seen during the Iran-Iraq “Tanker War” in 1984 to 1988.
However, this currently remains as an analytical risk, not a confirmed event as yet. There are still no reports of mines being laid, sighted, or detonated at the time of writing, a position that aligns with JMIC’s latest advisory notes.
As such, the immediate response at sea remains operator‑led - ships inside the Gulf have sheltered while others pause or divert away from the Strait of Hormuz. That behaviour reflects the confirmed strikes and ongoing electronic interference (GNSS/AIS/VHF) rather than any declared legal closure. Where sheltering has increased, routine risks rise - tight manoeuvring space, dragging anchors, and misunderstandings on VHF - especially near naval units.
Official and accredited guidance (unchanged but relevant to the new strikes).
- US MARAD Maritime Alert 2026‑001A remains in force: avoid the wider Hormuz/Gulf of Oman/North Arabian Sea area where possible and keep ≥ 30 nm clear of US naval units; maintain contact with NCAGS and monitor official outputs. This alert is consistent with the heightened risk now evidenced by the recent strikes.
- UKMTO advisories continue to emphasise caution, reporting, and awareness of electronic interference and misidentification risks; masters should keep a listening watch on VHF 16 and report abnormal activity promptly.
Following the confirmed vessel strikes, market reporting and security circulars indicate ongoing service suspensions/pauses and sheltering across liner trades serving the Middle East Gulf. This is now widely visible in schedules and anchorage density rather than policy statements.
What this means for shipowner and operators, today:
- Plan for short‑notice traffic control in the approaches (possible speed reductions and controlled movements) if authorities initiate route sanitisation or clearance after any suspected mine-laying.
- Where schedules allow, re‑routing remains the lower‑exposure choice versus extendeholding near chokepoints.
- If sheltering, keep Closest Point of Approach (CPA) margins generous and radio work clear and professional, given the interference reports and close proximity of naval units.
- Maintain full UKMTO/NCAGS reporting and preserve evidence (e.g., log extracts, ECDIS/VDR screenshots of GNSS anomalies, message receipts).
2 March 2026
The maritime risk picture has escalated markedly. The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) now assesses the regional maritime threat as CRITICAL (an attack is almost inevitable) after confirmed missile/projectile strikes on multiple merchant vessels in the Gulf of Oman/Strait of Hormuz approaches within the past 24 hours. The UKMTO continues to describe the wider area as highly volatile, warning of sustained GNSS/AIS/VHF interference and noting that VHF claims of a “closure” of the Strait are unverified and not legally binding. In parallel, the U.S. MARAD Maritime Alert 2026‑001A advises vessels to avoid the region where possible and to maintain at least 30 nm separation from US naval units while remaining in contact with NCAGS and monitoring UKMTO/JMIC outputs.
Flag‑state postures have also tightened. The Norwegian Maritime Authority has raised MARSEC/ISPS Level 3 for Norwegian‑flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, signalling a probable or imminent security incident that requires further, specific protective measures under the ISPS Code.
Beyond Hormuz, Lloyd’s List reports the US Navy has established a broad maritime warning zone and cautions that Houthi retaliation in the Red Sea/Bab al‑Mandab cannot be excluded; the EU’s EUNAVFOR ASPIDES mission remains on heightened readiness. Taken together, there is a credible risk of dual‑theatre disruption (Hormuz and Red Sea/BaM) if these trends coincide.
Current situation: Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and adjacent waters
JMIC confirms three separate vessel attacks in the last 24 hours:
- SKYLIGHT (IMO 9330020) was hit 5 nm north of Khasab with the crew evacuated and four injuries reported;
- MKD VYOM (IMO 9284386) sustained a projectile strike above the waterline with the fire subsequently controlled;
- SEA LA DONNA (IMO 9380532) reported an attack now under investigation.
JMIC adds that no sea mines have been detected, and it has identified no specific targeting rationale that would distinguish these ships from other commercial traffic.
Although many ships have received VHF hails asserting that the Strait is closed, there is no formal legal closure: JMIC notes no NAVAREA warning, no IMO Maritime Safety Information broadcast, and no charted exclusion zone.
The observed slowdown is a function of operator risk response rather than a promulgated suspension of transit passage. Even so, the throughput reduction is material: against a historic daily average of roughly 138 vessels, the most recent 24‑hour count is around 110.
Port‑side and coastal impacts underline the breadth of exposure. Jebel Ali recorded a debris‑related berth fire following an aerial interception, and anchorage density has increased at both approaches to the Strait; JMIC warns that clustering raises secondary risks - restricted manoeuvring space, anchor dragging, and collision exposure. Electronic warfare effects amplify those hazards: GNSS interference, AIS anomalies, and congested/contradictory VHF are widespread across the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and Hormuz approaches.
Commercial operators are adapting quickly. Hapag‑Lloyd has suspended all transits of the Strait of Hormuz, while CMA CGM has ordered vessels inside or bound for the Gulf to proceed to shelter pending reassessment. On the financing side, JMIC reports a war‑risk market escalation, including Notices of Cancellation with buy‑back options subject to underwriting.
Red Sea/Bab al‑Mandab - Houthi activity and the “second theatre”
Authoritative industry reporting indicates the Houthis are signalling a resumption of missile/drone activity against maritime targets in the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden following US–Israeli strikes on Iran, ending a months‑long period of relative calm in late‑2025. MARAD’s standing advisory catalogues the group’s tactics, techniques and procedures - from one‑way UAVs/USVs/UUVs to cruise/ballistic missiles, explosive boats, small‑arms fire and seizures - and cautions that targeting has extended beyond vessels with clear Israeli/US affiliations to occasional misidentification and collateral strikes. In anticipation of renewed pressure along the Red Sea corridor, the EU has extended Operation ASPIDES to 28 February 2027, sustaining defensive coverage and situational awareness along the Bab al-Mandeb (BaM) corridor, even as resources remain finite.
The strategic concern is the overlap: a constrained Hormuz at the same time as renewed Red Sea/BaM activity yields a dual‑chokepoint problem with few workable maritime bypasses for Gulf‑bound cargo and heightened uncertainty for schedules, insurance and chartering.
What to do now
- Refresh the Voyage Risk Assessment: before any approach to the affected waters, incorporating the latest JMIC, UKMTO, MARAD and flag‑state directives. Also factor explicitly for dual‑theatre exposure (Hormuz + Red Sea/BaM).
- Operate per the security level in force: Norwegian‑flagged vessels: implement MARSEC/ISPS Level 3 measures in the Persian Gulf/Strait of Hormuz/Gulf of Oman; whereas other flags should escalate posture per CSO guidance and flag instructions.
- Communicate and verify: Pre‑register/report with UKMTO; maintain a continuous VHF Ch.16 watch; respond professionally to directed hails; where practicable maintain ≥30 nm from U.S. naval units per MARAD. Treat unverified “closure” broadcasts as situational inputs, not legal restrictions - while still guarding against miscalculation near military units.
- Navigate with redundancy: Expect GNSS/AIS degradation; cross‑check positions with radar ranges, visual bearings and echo sounder; preserve screenshots and VDR extracts when anomalies occur to support insurance and post‑incident analysis.
- Manage density and timing: In congested approaches, plan generous CPAs, predictable courses/speeds and, where feasible, consider delaying, rerouting, or seeking escort/accompaniment recognising finite naval capacity (e.g., ASPIDES in Red Sea/BaM; situational awareness toward Hormuz).