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1. In view of the ongoing geopolitical situation and military operations in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz and Arabian Sea, various Flag Maritime Administrations have issued Ship Security Advisories providing directives to vessels operating in or intending to transit these areas.

2. The following areas have been identified as High-Threat Areas:

• Arabian/Persian Gulf;
• Gulf of Oman;
• North Arabian Sea;
• Strait of Hormuz (SoH);
• Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb (BeM), and
• Gulf of Aden (GoA).
• Water and Ports of Israel

3. Vessels operating in or intending to transit the above geographical region are advised to be more vigilant and take appropriate measures as per their Ship Security Plan.

4. Further, Shipowners, Operators, and Masters are advised to consider implementing following additional measures on their vessels while operating in these areas:

• Elevation of Ship Security Level in accordance with the vessel’s approved Ship Security Plan (SSP), or as otherwise directed by the vessel’s Flag State Administration.
• Masters/mariners to note the potential for elevated electronic interference, including disruption to AIS and other navigational or communications systems;
• Maintain a continuous listening watch on VHF Channel 16 and be prepared to respond to hails from coalition military forces;
• Monitor for AIS and navigational system anomalies and employ alternative positioning methods;
• Consider vessel registration in the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) – For registered vessel a primary point of contact in the region is as follows:

            Email: watchkeepers@ukmto.org; and ukmto@eim.ae
            Phone: +44 - 2392-222060, +971-50-552-3215
            Fax +44 1923 958520

• Contact the Maritime Security Centre – Indian Ocean (MSCIO):

            Email: postmaster@mscio.eu
            Phone: +33 (0) 298220220, +33 (0) 298220170

• Contact US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) for the latest situational awareness prior to entering the High-threat Areas.
• Conduct an immediate threat and risk assessment and evaluate whether transit should be deferred pending further guidance.

5. For further guidance, refer Circulars and Advisories issued by respective Flag State Administrations. Few circulars/ notices issued by the Flag Administrations are attached to this Circular.

6. Ship owners/ operators and masters of the vessels are advised to be guided by above.

Enclosure: 

1. Palau Ship Security Advisory Marine Circular-216.1
2. Sierra Leone Marine Circular-58
3. Belize Marine Safety Advisory 043-26
4. Cyprus Circular-06-2026
5. Cook Island- MCI Circular -337
6. Malta-MS Notice-205
7. Sao Tome & Principe-Marine Notice-001-2026
8. Bahamas-Technical Alert-26-03
9. India- DGS Circular-08 of 2026
10. Liberia -Marine Security Advisory – 03/2025/Rev.4
11. Marshall Island-Ship Security Advisory no. 02-26
12. San Marino- SMMN – 2026- SEC-004
13. Vanuatu-FSL-GEN.020326

. This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person.
. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.

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