Weekly Maritime Report

Monday 16 March 2026 to Monday 23 March 2026

Dear Client,

Please find below our most recent Weekly Maritime Security Report. If you have any queries please contact us at africaops@castorvali.com.

Executive Summary

Total Number of Incidents this Week: 8

Americas: 0

Europe: 0

Key developments from the last week and seven-day forecast:

• Indian Ocean: Major escalation with projectile attacks on vessels off UAE coast and strikes on Iranian oil refineries at Assaluyeh, prompting Iranian evacuation orders for Gulf energy facilities. Regional tensions reaching critical levels with direct threats to commercial shipping and energy infrastructure.
  
  • 7-day forecast ↗️: High likelihood of escalated attacks on commercial vessels in Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf following regional strikes. Vessels advised to avoid Iranian waters and maintain maximum distance from conflict zones.
• Southeast Asia: Armed robbery incidents in Singapore Strait showing increased boldness with perpetrators successfully boarding vessels and stealing engine spares. One incident involved armed perpetrator with long knife, indicating escalating threat levels.
  • 7-day forecast ➡️: Significant probability of continued armed robbery attempts in Singapore Strait with perpetrators demonstrating increased confidence. Enhanced vigilance recommended with crew drills and secured access points.
• Europe: No incident reported during review period.
  • 7-day forecast ➡️: Low threat environment expected to continue with minimal security incidents anticipated. Standard security protocols sufficient for regional operations.
• West Africa: Single incident reported during the period maintaining substantial regional threat assessment. Continued piracy risk remains present despite reduced weekly activity.
  • 7-day forecast➡️: Piracy threat expected to remain consistent with high likelihood of attempted attacks in Gulf of Guinea approaches. Vessels advised to maintain enhanced security posture and follow BMP West Africa guidelines.
• Americas: No incident reported during review period.
  • 7-day forecast ➡️: Continued low threat assessment with minimal maritime security incidents expected. Routine security measures adequate for regional transits.

To view this week's complete report, please click link below:

 Terminology

All findings are predictive and estimative. To communicate these findings clearly and in order to accurately compare threat levels, the report uses a variation of terminology used by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Castor Vali has adopted the definition of piracy similar to that given in the BMP. Content within the linked document above uses the term ‘piracy’ which includes all violent and non-violent acts against vessels, her crew and cargo which have taken place either in internal waterways, territorial waters or deep offshore. Castor Vali classifies piracy incidents into six categories:

• Hijacking – Crew lost control of the vessel for a sufficient period of time and then pirates kidnapped at least one crewmember and/or passenger(s).
• Pirate Attack – Vessel was attacked with gunfire or RPG fire and/or then boarded the vessel with the intent to hijack and/or kidnap at least one crewmember(s) and/or passenger(s).
• Robbery – Vessel is boarded with criminal intent, theft does not have to occur.
• Suspicious Activity – Suspicious activity reported (i.e. a vessel was approached by unidentified craft with one or more persons on board) or sighting of firearms and boarding equipment on board a suspicious vessel and/or sighting of a confirmed pirate mother ship.
• General Alert – A reported incident has been released by authorities to notify seafarers of a possible incident which is still being investigated/confirmed. This can also be a warning of an imminent Danger to seafarers.
• Caution – An unconfirmed warning of an incident that could affect seafarers.

Disclaimer
You have received this report as part of your organisation’s subscription. Castor Vali assessment and advice is given based on the information received and processed by us and the surrounding circumstances known to us to exist at the time. Subsequent changes to relevant information or the surrounding circumstances may affect the reliability of our assessment and advice, but we do not accept responsibility for that effect. We do not accept responsibility for the outcome of any action taken or not taken as a result of our assessment and advice unless the possibility of that action being taken or not taken is set out in specific terms in our instructions.

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