Loss Prevention Advice
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New tension is emerging in the shipping front, as Iranian forces struck a tanker in the Gulf of Oman, marking the first successful attack east of the Strait of Hormuz in nearly two weeks.
Following a brief 72-hour pause during which the Gulf and surrounding waters had calmed, on 17 March that a tanker off the UAE had been attacked. According to the report, a tanker located 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah, UAE, said that it was struck by an unknown projectile while at anchor.
Minor structural damage was reported, fortunately with no injuries to the crew and no environmental impact.
The incident follows recent drone strikes on oil facilities at the port of Fujairah. To remind, oil loadings at Fujairah were halted on 16 March for the second time in recent days, after a drone strike caused a fire in the petroleum industrial zone.
According to the UKMTO, between 28 February 2026 and 17 March 2026 (0800 UTC), the monitoring agency received 21 reports of incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman. Of these, 17 were classified as attacks and 4 as suspicious activity reports.
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Over the past week 10-16 March, no incident of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia.
An advises to ships shall to continue to intensify vigilance, maintain a sharp look-out while anchoring or transiting areas of concern, including the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and report all incidents to the law enforcement agencies immediately; and the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in these areas.
Situation of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah
Situation update
For the 6th consecutive year, there has been no report of incident of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah. The last incident occurred on 17 Jan 2020. In January 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), coordinated with other stakeholders and counterparts further downgraded the threat level of ‘Abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas’ to ‘LOW’, meaning ‘No information or monitored activities suggest an impending attack; hence incidents are not expected to occur’.
In its Advisory on 14 Feb 2025 advised ships to “exercise vigilance when transiting the Sulu-Celebes Seas and report incidents to the Operation Centres of the Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM)”. Also, to maintain communication with the relevant authorities when transiting the area.
Recommendations
Ship master and crew are to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal State and flag State, referring to the Poster on the Contact Details for Reporting of Incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, exercise vigilance and adopt appropriate preventive measures taking reference from the Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia.
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The maritime activity across the Gulf and adjacent shipping systems remains heavily disrupted, as the conflict continues to distort commercial traffic patterns, energy flows, and maritime security conditions.
Outlook
The March 16 operating picture points to a maritime system that remains disrupted rather than frozen. Visible traffic through Hormuz remains extremely limited, reflecting continued operator reluctance to transit the corridor under current security conditions.
At the same time, the broader commercial response still reflects extreme caution. Vessel accumulation in the Gulf of Oman, reduced Bab el-Mandeb traffic, elevated Cape diversions, and mounting congestion at alternative hubs indicate that many operators continue to avoid direct exposure to the Gulf threat environment.
Maritime security risks are expanding beyond the Gulf theater, illustrated by the strike on the MARAN HOMER in the Black Sea and Russian activity near the damaged Arctic Metagaz platform.
In the near term, maritime activity is likely to remain defined by restricted transit through Hormuz, continued route redistribution across global corridors, and growing pressure on alternative export and transshipment infrastructure.
As the conflict enters its third week, the operational consequences are no longer limited to Gulf shipping alone but are increasingly shaping wider maritime security and trade patterns across multiple regions.
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A notice to strengthen collision prevention between merchant ships and fishing vessels in the in Coastal Waters of China.
China MSA issued a notice to all its affiliated Maritime Safety Administrations (MSAs) to strengthen collision prevention between merchant ships and fishing vessels, providing guidance aimed at improving navigation safety, reducing collision risks, and safeguarding both crews and vessels operating in China’s busy coastal waters. collision Prevention Between Merchant Ships and Fishing Vessels”
- Emphasizing shore-based monitoring and guidance
- The Notice explicitly requires shipowners and managers to implement a 24-hour shore-based watch-keeping system. Shore-based personnel are responsible for dynamically monitoring ships and receiving real-time warnings from competent authorities regarding waters with dense fishing vessels, high-risk areas, and concentrated port entry and exit of fishing vessels. They are also required to guide ships in conducting pre-voyage risk assessments, verifying voyage plans, collision avoidance protocols, and watch-keeping arrangements in fishing areas, while establishing a coordinated “shore-based and shipboard” collision prevention mechanism.
- While these requirements primarily apply to Chinese shipowners and Chinese-flagged vessels, it is recommended that all shipowners and ships adopt these measures as industry best practices.