Tag: Persian Gulf

Taking stock of the situation in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman, BIMCO and fellow industry associations have develop transit corridors for the consideration of Ship Masters, Owners and Operators.

According to Gard P&I Club, regional conflicts, military activity, and political tensions continue to pose threats to commercial vessels operating in high risk areas such as the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Western Indian Ocean.

According to news, Iranian forces have detained two ships in the Persian Gulf and arrested their crew for allegedly carrying smuggled oil.

The Combined Maritime Force (CMR) and EU NAVFOR have recently issued Industry Releasable Threat Bulletin (IRTB) 031 intended to help shipping operators who are responsible for merchant and large commercial fishing vessels that pass through, or operate in, the Persian Gulf, Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (GOA).

Regional conflict, heightened military activity, and increased political tensions pose threats to merchant vessels operating in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Western Indian Ocean.

The Joint War Committee has recently reviewed the Listed Areas, and has agreed the following changes.

BIMCO issued an industry update concerning the tanker that while conducting its STS operations in international waters in the Persian Gulf it reported a limpet mine attached to the hull of the vessel. 

Reporting indicates that the Liberian flagged MT Pola has identified the presence of a suspicious object attached to the vessel hull while conducting StS 6nm South Al Bakr Terminal offshore Iraq. As Dryad Global informs, the object is suspected to be a limpet mine. The crew and vessel are understood to be safe at this time. Currently, Iraqi explosives experts are working to defuse the mine. What is more, the MT Pola can be seen to have been in position where the mine was found since the 27th December 20, however it remains unclear when the device was placed. Additional reporting indicates that a second vessel the M/T Nordic Freedom has assisted the Pola in obtaining pictures of the device. This latest incident comes after a spate of incidents within the Red Sea where vessels were targeted by similar devices and WBIED at the Saudi Ports of Al Shuquaiq and Jeddah. Regional tensions remain fraught with uncertainty remaining around the future strategic position of the US within the region post Trump. In addition recent increases in US military activity and rhetoric have led to a heightened posture within Iran. With anniversary of the death of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani approaching ...

Ships have reported an increasing number of cases of significant GPS interference and jamming in recent months. The geographic areas with more than one reported incident include the eastern and central Mediterranean Sea, the Persian Gulf, and multiple Chinese ports.

According to the French Misnistry of Armed Forces, the European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASoH) is from now on operational in the Strait of Hormuz. The mission aims to boost and ensure the freedom of navigation in the Arabian-Persian Gulf area.