Maritime Incident Report: August 2025
Executive Summary
Our monthly Maritime Incident Report: August 2025 covers maritime security and incidents throughout the Indian Ocean, Europe, West Africa, South East Asia and South America for the period 01/08/25 – 31/08/25.
• Europe: In the Black Sea, Russia intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, attacking oil storage facilities in the Danube port of Izmail. Two commercial ships were damaged in two separate incidents, and a Ukrainian warship was struck in the Danube Delta. Ukraine responded with an attack on a Russian Corvette operating in the Sea of Azov. Over 70 human migration events were reported in the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea.
• Red Sea and Gulf of Aden: A ship reported a possible Houthi attack southwest of Yanbu, KSA. Israel continued to strike Houthi targets in Yemen, prompting fears of retaliation against commercial vessels with links to Israel in the Red Sea. Reports of GPS interference continue in the central Red Sea region.
• Indian Ocean and Somali Basin: The SW Monsoon is now in full effect in the Indian Ocean; no incidents were reported during August.
• The Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman: Levels of electronic interference in the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz dropped during August. The region remains relatively quiet following the cessation of hostilities between Iran, the US, and Israel.
• West Africa and Gulf of Guinea: A Malta-flagged tanker was reported to have been boarded by pirates 60nm south of Lome, Togo, and robbers in the Rivers State waterways in Nigeria attacked a passenger boat. Over 450 human migrants were rescued or intercepted in three incidents in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of West Africa.
• Southeast Asia and South China Sea: Following the arrest of a criminal gang operating in the Singapore Strait in July, only two boarding and robbery incidents were reported in the region during August. Two Chinese naval vessels collided during a confrontation with a Philippine ship in the South China Sea.
• Latin America, South America and the Caribbean Sea: An offshore support vessel (OSV) and an accommodation platform were boarded by armed men in the Gulf of Campeche. Several people are reported to be dead after a gang attacked a fishing vessel off the coast of Ecuador. Robberies from pleasure boats continued across the Caribbean.
1. Regional Report: Europe
Monthly Activity
Russia conducted drone attacks on the Ukrainian Danube River port of Izmail. The Triton Oil Terminal was struck, and the oil tanker EXCELLION sustained significant damage; there were no reports of any casualties. Russia also attacked and severely damaged the Ukrainian warship SIMFEROPOL in the Danube Delta, while Ukraine hit a Russian warship in the Sea of Azov with two aerial drones. A commercial vessel was reported to have struck an unidentified explosive device on the approach to the port of Chornomorsk near Odesa. In the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, an increase in human migration events was reported. Over 80 human migration incidents were recorded, with events occurring in Spain, Tunisia, Libya, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, resulting in the interception or rescue of an estimated 3,500 migrants.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Black Sea. 19 August 2025 – Conflict Activity:
The tanker, EXCELLION, was hit by a UAV while operating at Izmail port on the River Danube. The UAV attack targeted the Triton oil depot, the largest terminal in southern Ukraine. According to Russian sources, the tanker EXCELLION was alongside unloading products. The Russians reported at least 20 direct hits on the port infrastructure.
2. The Black Sea. 28 August 2025 – Conflict Activity:
The Ukrainian military vessel SIMFEROPOL was hit by a Russian unmanned surface vessel (USV) when operating in the Danube Delta. According to Ukrainian media, the vessel was damaged, and one crew member was killed. Several others were wounded.
3. The Black Sea. 28 August 2025 – Conflict Activity:
A Russian warship was hit by two Ukrainian aerial drones while operating in Temriuk Bay, in the Sea of Azov. The Russian Corvette was reported to be a Buyan M-type vessel. Videos released showed one of the drones impacting the mast and another hitting the starboard side at bridge level. There is no information about the vessel and crew damage.
4. The Black Sea. 31 August 2025 – Conflict Activity:
The port of Chornomorsk near Odesa, Ukraine, was reportedly hit in a Russian missile strike. According to media reports, power infrastructure was targeted as part of a wider Russian attack on Ukrainian critical national infrastructure. In a possibly related incident, the Belize-flagged bulk carrier NS PRIDE was damaged after hitting an unidentified explosive device in the Black Sea near Chornomorsk. Reports suggest that a previously-downed Shaheed drone exploded under the ship. The bulk carrier is understood not to have been carrying any cargo at the time of the explosion. It remains afloat, with no casualties among the crew and no water ingress into the hull.
5. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 07 August – Migrations Incidents (Spain):
The Balearic Islands government delegation announced the rescue of 47 migrants (including three women) aboard two boats south of the island of Cabrera (Balearic Islands).
6. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 10 – 12 August 2025 – Migrant Incident (Italy):
118 migrants landed on the southern coast of Sardinia. One migrant was rescued from the water by the Italian coast guard. An Algerian national, he said he had left Skikda, Algeria, to reach Sant’Antioco with eight other migrants aboard a boat that sank off Capo Sperone. One body was recovered, and the other seven people remain missing despite ongoing searches. Seven different groups landed in Casaletta (13 and 10), Porto Pino (28, 13, and 15), Sant’Antico (14), and Calaverde (24), respectively.
7. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 11 August 2025 – Migrant Incident (Libya):
A German-flagged vessel of the NGO Sea Watch rescued 73 migrants during two separate operations (6 and 67 people, respectively) in the Libyan SAR. It disembarked them in the designated port of Salerno on August 14.
8. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 13 August 2025 – Migrant Incident (Italy):
Two boats carrying Pakistani, Somali, and Sudanese migrants, which had left Tripoli (Libya) the day before, capsized one after the other 15 nautical miles off the coast of Lampedusa. Sixty survivors were rescued and brought ashore on the island after being spotted by a Guardia di Finanza helicopter and, once the alert was raised, picked up by several coast guard patrol boats.
9. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 13 – 19 August 2025 – Migrant Incidents (Italy):
1,509 migrants arrived by sea and were taken in charge in Italy. All the migrants had departed from North Africa.
10. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 19 August 2025 – Migrant Incident (Spain):
A total of 109 migrants, comprising 58 from North Africa and 51 from sub-Saharan Africa, arrived at Cabrera and Formentera aboard five boats. They were intercepted and taken into custody by the Salvamento Marítimo and the Guardia Civil.
11. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 23 August 2025 – Migrant Incident (Greece):
53 migrants were rescued in Farmakonisi, Greece, by the Greek Coast Guard.
Operational Status of Ukraine’s Black Sea Ports
•The Danube ports of Reni, Izmail and Ust-Dunaisk are open with some restrictions.
• Belgorod Dniestrovskiy is open with some restrictions.
• Odesa Port is open.
• Skadovsk port is closed.
• Chornomorsk is reported to be open. Grain export only.
• Yuzhny/Pivdennyi is open.
• The port of Berdyansk is closed.
• Mykolaiv (Olvia) Port is closed. Cargo operations are suspended for commercial operations.
• Mariupol Port is closed. The city is controlled by Russian forces, and the port is reported by the Russian military to be operational but it remains closed according to Ukraine’s Maritime Administration.
• Kherson Port is closed. Cargo operations are suspended for commercial operations.
2. Regional Report: The Red Sea and Gulf Of Aden
Monthly Activity
Israel carried out further air strikes on Houthi weapons and command infrastructure in Yemen. A commercial vessel reported what it believed to be a missile attack 40nm southwest of Yanbu, KSA. If confirmed, this marks the farthest north in the Red Sea where a Houthi attack has occurred since operations began in November 2023. Additional reports were received from vessels experiencing GPS interference in the Red Sea, near Port Sudan, and off the Eritrean coast, with disruptions lasting several hours.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Red Sea. August 2025 – Electronic Interference:
UKMTO received a number of corroborating reports from vessels experiencing GPS interference in the Red Sea, with disruptions lasting several hours, affecting navigation systems, and requiring ships to rely on backup methods. Masters who experience disruption to electronic navigation systems (GPS / AIS / Other PNT) anywhere within the UKMTO Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) are requested to contact UKMTO watchkeepers.
2. The Red Sea. 31 August 2025 – Suspicious Event:
UKMTO reported an incident 40nm southwest of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. A Master reported to UKMTO that they witnessed a splash in close proximity to their vessel from an unknown projectile and heard a loud bang. All crew are safe and the vessel continued on its voyage. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.
3. Regional Report: The Indian Ocean and Somali Basin
Monthly Activity
With the Indian Ocean SW Monsoon now in full effect, reports of small boat activity are likely to be negligible across the region. However, the risk of attack for vessels transiting near the coast of Somalia remains, particularly for foreign fishing vessels operating in Somali waters. The threat of a pirate attack against a commercial ship is low.
Maritime Incidents
No Incidents to Report.
4. Regional Report: The Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman
Monthly Activity
Relative calm has returned to the region after the end of hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the US. However, electronic interference remains a safety issue across the region despite the level of GPS jamming and spoofing having reduced during August.
Maritime Incidents
1. Gulf of Oman. 11 August 2025 – Electronic Interference:
An unnamed vessel experienced GPS jamming and spoofing during the entire duration of its transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
5. Regional Report: West Africa and Gulf of Guinea
Monthly Activity
The Malta-flagged oil tanker ENDO PONTENTE reported being boarded 60nm south of Lomé, Togo. The crew took to the citadel until a Togo naval ship arrived. A passenger craft was attacked by armed men in Rivers State, Nigeria. Elsewhere in the region, human migration events continued along the Atlantic coast of West Africa, with over 730 migrants rescued in an area extending from Senegal to the Canary Islands.
Maritime Incidents
1. Gulf of Guinea. 12 August 2025 – Boarding (Nigeria):
Robbers attacked a passenger boat when transiting from Bille to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Another report said that the same gang attempted to attack another passenger boat earlier in the same area. No more details were provided.
2. Gulf of Guinea. 28 August 2025 – Suspicious Activity (Togo EEZ):
The oil tanker, ENDO PONTENTE, was reportedly boarded by pirates while transiting from Lomé, Togo, to the Republic of Congo. The incident occurred 60nm south of Lomé. According to the initial report, the crew mustered inside the Citadel until a Togo naval unit arrived and freed them.
3. The Atlantic Ocean. 11 August 2025 – Migration Incident (Canary Islands):
In Lanzarote, over 60 migrants reached the Canary Islands aboard two boats.
4. The Atlantic Ocean. 14 August 2025 – Migration Incident (Senegal):
The Senegalese Navy rescued 147 migrants who were heading for the Canary Islands, 45nm off the coast of Sangomar, west of Dakar.
5. The Atlantic Ocean. 23 August 2025 – Migration Incident (Canary Islands):
In Gran Canaria, 251 migrants of sub-Saharan origin were rescued from a small boat that had suffered an engine failure and was adrift. The incident took place 232nm south of the island of Gran Canaria by the Salvamento Maritimo patrol boat GUARDAMAR URANIA.
6. Regional Report: South East Asia
Monthly Activity
The arrest of a criminal gang in July that had been operating in the Singapore Strait has resulted in a marked reduction in boardings of commercial vessels in the area. Only two incidents were reported in the Singapore Strait in August, compared to twenty in June 2025. A Chinese warship and a Chinese Coast Guard vessel collided while in pursuit of a Philippine vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. The Coast Guard vessel received significant damage during the incident.
Significant Maritime Incidents
1. Singapore Strait. 3 August 2025 – Boarding and Theft:
When transiting the Eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait, the Captain of the tug HK TUG 9 reported that robbers stole scrap metal from the barge LKH 2882 under tow and escaped. Ten perpetrators in nine sampans came alongside the barge and removed scrap metal from the barge deck. The crew was reported to be safe.
2. Singapore Strait. 28 August 2025 – Boarding:
When transiting the Singapore Strait, in the Phillip channel, the cargo vessel GEORGITSI reported a boarding by two robbers. No other information was provided.
3. South China Sea. 11 August 2025 – Collision:
A Chinese PLA navy warship collided with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel while operating near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. The Chinese vessels were reportedly pursuing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel when the incident occurred. At least two crew members on the CG vessel were killed during the incident.
6. Regional Report: South America and Caribbean
Monthly Activity
An offshore accommodation platform and an offshore support vessel (OSV) were boarded in two incidents in the Gulf of Campeche, Mexico. Armed men forced the crew to hand over personal belongings and stole ship’s equipment before leaving the scene. An armed attack took place on a fishing vessel off Machala, Ecuador, leaving several dead. Robberies from pleasure boats continued across the Caribbean.
Maritime Incidents:
1. The Caribbean. 1 August 2025 – Boarding and Theft (Trinidad):
A yacht anchored off Peakes with owners onboard had its dinghy painter lines cut, and the alongside dinghy/outboard stolen at 1930 hours. The theft was reported on the VHF net, and a police report was filed.
2. The Caribbean. 2 August 2025 – Boarding and Theft (Aruba):
A yacht was anchored in the northwestern coast of Aruba, off Eagle Beach. During the night, while the owners slept on board their catamaran, two fishing rods and snorkelling equipment were stolen from the cockpit area.
3. The Caribbean. 9 August 2025 – Boarding and Theft (Mexico):
The OSV CAPTAIN AMERICA was operating 9nm north of Paraiso, in the Xikin field, Campeche Bay, Mexico, when it was boarded by robbers. Six armed men (pistols and rifles) boarded the vessel, threatened the crew, and stole sets of breathing apparatus. They left the ship without using violence. The crew and vessel are reported as safe.
4. The Caribbean. 12 August 2025 – Theft (Martinique):
An unoccupied yacht on a marina mooring had a dinghy, a Boston Whaler, and a 15HP Yamaha outboard, stolen overnight. The 15HP Yamaha engine on a second dinghy, also locked, but raised, on the same yacht, was also stolen.
5. The Caribbean. 18 August 2025 – Boarding and Theft (Mexico):
At around 2230 hours local time, a group of robbers boarded the accommodation platform AKAL ROMEO. According to initial reports, the robbers arrived in one boat and were armed with rifles. They boarded the platform, shooting in the air to scare personnel on the platform, and proceeded to steal self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) before fleeing the area.
6. The Caribbean. 18 August 2025 – Robbery (Curacao):
An unoccupied yacht in Spanish Waters anchorage B had the radar dome stolen. It was mounted above the stern, thieves cut cables, and used tools to unbolt it.
7. The Pacific Ocean. 8 August 2025 – Armed Attack (Ecuador):
It was reported that an attack took place on a fishing vessel by armed perpetrators. According to local reports, members of the Los Lobos armed group attacked a fishing vessel sanctioned by a rival organisation. The group consisted of around 10-12 perpetrators. The attack left five dead and seven injured. An undetermined number of individuals remain missing.