Loss Prevention Advice
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In a Good Catch series, a safety animation to inform interested parties about safe bunkering operations.
Safe bunkering starts with a shared plan. Bunkering operations involve fuel transfer and close coordination where breakdowns can quickly place seafarers in dangerous situations.
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Below you will find a weekly report dated 22 April 2026, covering the period of 16 to 22 April, where the following incidents were reported:
- 2 maritime security incidents in West Africa in the last 7 days
- 9 maritime security incidents in the Indian Ocean/Middle East in the last 7 days.
Full advisory at the following link.
https://britanniapandi.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ARC-Weekly-Report-23.04.26.pdf
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The hundred thirteenth session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Legal Committee (LEG 113) was held from the 13rd to the 17th of April 2026, with emphasis on improving transparency in ship registration and tackling the increasing misuse of flags.
Initially, LEG 113 was informed that Belgium, Germany, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Sweden had deposited their instruments of ratification for the 2010 HNS Convention, bringing the treaty closer to entry into force as it has now surpassed the required threshold of twelve state parties.
Under the next step, contracting parties are due to submit their HNS contributing cargo data to the IMO Secretariat by 31 May 2026. The Secretariat will then assess whether the minimum entry-into-force requirement of 40 million tonnes has been met. If this threshold is reached, the Convention could enter into force 18 months later, with 30 November 2027 being the earliest possible date.
Furthermore, LEG 113 also approved a Legal Committee circular containing guidelines on the registration of ships. These guidelines are intended to support flag States in strengthening registration procedures, detecting fraudulent documentation, and preventing unlawful registrations.
According to the IMO, the number of falsely flagged ships has increased since the previous session, with 529 ships currently flying false flags, 356 of which are not classed by any classification society.
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Fraudulent messages offering safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for cryptocurrency have been circulated to shipping companies with vessels stranded west of the waterway.
In an alert issued on 20 April, an unknown actors posing as Iranian authorities had contacted shipping companies, demanding payment in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Tether in exchange for transit “clearance.”
According to the firm, the fraudulent message stated: “After providing the documents and assessing your eligibility by the Iranian Security Services, we will be able to determine the fee to be paid in cryptocurrency (BTC or USDT). Only then will your vessel be able to transit the strait unimpeded at the pre-agreed time.”
These messages are fraudulent and not issued by official Iranian entities.
There has been no immediate response from Tehran. MARISKS noted that at least one vessel, reportedly fired upon while attempting to exit the strait on 18 April, may have been targeted as a result of the scam.
The scam comes against a backdrop of continued disruption in the region. The United States has maintained its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has intermittently imposed and lifted its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flowed prior to the outbreak of war in the Middle East.