Maritime Incident Report: November 2025
Executive Summary
Our monthly Maritime Incident Report: November 2025 covers maritime security and incidents throughout the Indian Ocean, Europe, West Africa, South East Asia and South America for the period 01/11/25 – 30/10/25.
• Europe: In the Black Sea, maritime security incidents affecting commercial shipping increased during November. Two oil tankers linked to trade in Russian oil and ships working on the Danube River were attacked in conflict-related incidents. Irregular Migration events continue in the Mediterranean Sea, but at a reduced number compared with October’s figures.
• Red Sea and Gulf of Aden: No Houthi-related incidents were reported in this region during November. While the ceasefire in Gaza is holding, the Yemen-based Houthis appear to have paused attacks on commercial ships. As a result, there was an increase in the number of ships transiting the Suez Canal last month.
• Indian Ocean and Somali Basin: Piracy incidents spiked in the western Indian Ocean in November. Activity centred on a suspected Somali Pirate Action Group (PAG) using a hijacked dhow/fishing vessel as a mothership to attack ships transiting the shipping lanes beyond 500 nm.
• The Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman: Iranian forces seized an oil tanker as it exited the Strait of Hormuz. GPS spoofing incidents continued in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.
• West Africa and Gulf of Guinea: A Turkish-owned oil tanker with links to trade in Russian oil suffered explosions on its hull while anchored off Dakar, Senegal. Robbery incidents took place in Lagos port, and a commercial ship was boarded by suspected pirates 75 nm off the coast of Equatorial Guinea.
• Southeast Asia and South China Sea: The number of ships boarded in the Singapore Strait increased compared to recent months, and a ship was boarded in the Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia.
• Latin America, South America and the Caribbean Sea: Tensions rose in the Caribbean as the U.S. deployed a naval task force off the coast of Venezuela. The U.S. also conducted operations in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean against a craft it suspected of narcotics smuggling. The Caribbean Safety and Security Network (CSSN) reported at least four incidents involving theft and other criminal activity across the Caribbean Sea in November.
1. Regional Report: Europe
Monthly Activity
Ukraine appears to have carried out attacks on oil tankers transiting the Black Sea, which are believed to be part of Russia’s dark fleet. Two oil tankers were reported to have been hit by Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) near the Turkish Black Sea coast. Both ships were taken to ports in Turkey for repairs. Russia carried out attacks on the Ukrainian port of Izmail on the Danube River, and a Turkish-flagged LPG tanker was hit during the attack. There was a significant reduction in irregular migration incidents (approximately 71 events), possibly due to deteriorating weather conditions; however, events still occurred across the Mediterranean Sea, including in Spain, Tunisia, Libya, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus, resulting in the interception of an estimated 3,500 migrants. In some cases, commercial vessels have been called upon to assist in rescue operations.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Black Sea. 16 November 2025:
While berthed at Izmail port on the Danube River, Ukraine, the Turkish-flagged LPG tanker, ORINDA, was hit by a UAV. The vessel was set on fire. The attack occurred a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a deal to import US liquefied natural gas through the area. The ship was hit during the offloading of liquefied petroleum gas. All 16 crew on board were evacuated but no one was hurt.
2. The Black Sea. 28 November 2025:
The Gambian-flagged oil tanker VIRAT reported an explosion when transiting at about 30 nm north of Cide, Turkey, in the Black Sea. The Turkish rescue services supported the ship and its crew. The cause of the explosion is believed to be an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV). The VIRAT is considered to be part of the Russian “Dark Fleet”. The vessel was not loaded at the time of the attack, and its final destination was unknown.
3. The Black Sea. 28 November 2025:
The Gambian-flagged oil tanker KAIROS reported an explosion when transiting at about 30 nm north of Kandira, Turkey, in the Black Sea. The explosion generated a fire onboard, and Turkish rescue services evacuated the ship’s crew. The cause of the explosion was believed to be a USV. The KAIROS is considered to be part of the Russian “Dark Fleet” and was transiting to Novorossiysk, Russia, in Ballast.
4. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 12 November 2025 – Irregular Migration (Spain):
Spanish authorities stated that 166 migrants of sub-Saharan and North African origin were intercepted in various locations in Mallorca and Formentera. In just 24 hours, Maritime Rescue and the Civil Guard assisted a total of 239 people.
5. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 13 November 2025 – Irregular Migration (Cyprus):
A small boat carrying 21 Syrian nationals arrived near Rizokarpaso in Cyprus.
6. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 13 November 2025 – Irregular Migration (Spain):
One migrant died, and 16 Migrants were rescued off Cartagena. The Maritime Rescue Service recovered the body of a man who had fallen overboard from a small boat carrying 17 migrants. The boat was found 55 miles southeast of Cartagena.
7. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 13 November 2025 – Irregular Migration (Italy):
From 11 to 13 November, a total of 130 migrants were taken into custody along the coast of Sardinia. The coastguard rescued five boats carrying between five and 17 migrants each, while the other migrants were taken into custody by the Carabinieri upon their arrival on the beaches.
8. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 16 November 2025 – Irregular Migration (Spain):
A seven-meter inflatable boat, originating from Algeria, was intercepted carrying 16 migrants in conditions that seriously compromised their safety.
9. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 24 November 2025 – Irregular Migration (Italy):
The Humanitarian rescue ship SOS HUMANITY rescued 75 migrants: the ship offloaded the migrants in Lampedusa.
10. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 26 November 2025 – Irregular Migration (Libya):
80 migrants were rescued by an NGO ship off the coast of Tripoli, Libya.
11. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 28 November 2025 – Irregular Migration (Tunisia):
An NGO ship rescued 195 migrants in Tunisian SRR. The Italian authorities assigned it the port of Bari as its port of disembarkation.
12. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 30 November 2025 – Irregular Migration (Greece):
68 migrants aboard a boat in distress were rescued off the coast of Gavdos by a Frontex humanitarian patrol boat. They were disembarked in Crete.
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
The Houthis appear to have paused attacks on non-Israeli-flagged ships transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden while they assess the situation regarding the ceasefire in Gaza. However, until a long-term solution is agreed upon between Israel and Hamas, it is still possible that the Houthis may resume their activities. There has been a positive reaction from the shipping industry, with Red Sea transit numbers increasing, and some larger carriers resuming Suez Canal transits for the first time since November 2023. There was a further reduction in the number of ships experiencing GPS interference in the Red Sea during November.
Maritime Incidents
No incidents to report.
3. Regional Report: The Indian Ocean and Somali Basin
Monthly Activity
There was a spike in piracy incidents in the western Indian Ocean during November. The events centred around a Somali Pirate Action Group (PAG) using a hijacked Iranian dhow/fishing vessel as a mothership to strike deep-ocean shipping lanes. The PAG made at least four attempts to board ships transiting the Indian Ocean. The incidents occurred between 350nm and 700nm east of the Somali coast. In two of the attacks, the onboard Armed Security Team (AST) prevented the pirates from boarding the vessels. On 6 November, the product tanker HELLAS APHRODITE was successfully boarded by pirates. The crew used BMP-MS countermeasures and locked themselves in the ship’s citadel; the pirates were unable to take control of the ship. The pirates left before an EU NAVFOR naval ship arrived at the scene. The PAG is believed to be no longer active in the region, but the threat of further pirate activity remains.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Indian Ocean. 2 November 2025 – Boarding:
The master of an Iranian fishing vessel reported that unauthorised men had boarded his vessel.
2. The Indian Ocean. 2 November 2025 – Attempted Boarding:
When operating 350 nm southeast of Mogadishu in the Indian Ocean, a fishing vessel was approached by a small craft. The Tuna fishing vessel was approached by a skiff at high speed. The skiff appeared to come from the fishing vessel ISSA MOHAMADI. The alarm was raised and the skiff returned to the ”mother vessel”.
3. The Indian Ocean. 3 November 2025 – Attempted Boarding:
A vessel reported that four men were onboard a small boat that approached the ship. Gunfire was exchanged between the men and the armed security team on board the ship. The pirates’ men then aborted the boarding attempt and escaped in the direction of what appeared to be a mothership situated 5 nm from the scene of the attempted boarding.
4. The Indian Ocean. 6 November 2025 – Pirate Attack:
When transiting about 670 nm east of Mogadishu, the tanker HELLAS APHRODITE was approached by a small craft. The people in the boat fired at the ships with small arms and RPGs. The small craft was supported by a mother vessel, the Iranian fishing vessel ISSA MOHAMADI, which had been hijacked on 3 November. The crew took refuge in the citadel and waited for help to arrive. The pirates left the vessel after they were unable to take control of the ship. The Spanish frigate VICTORIA arrived on scene on the morning of 7 November 2025, but the pirates had left the area.
5. The Indian Ocean. 7 November 2025 – Attempted boarding:
When transiting about 528 nm southeast of Eyl, in the Indian Ocean, the LNG tanker AL THUMAMA was approached by a small craft. The Master reported being approached by a small craft with 3 people on board. The Master reported that his vessel had outrun the small craft, which returned to the suspected mothership identified by the Master as ISSA MOHAMADI.
4. Regional Report: The Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman
Monthly Activity
In what appears to be a commercial dispute, Iranian naval forces boarded a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. The Iranians claimed the tanker was dealing in illegal products. The vessel was released after the cargo was unloaded in Iran. Electronic interference remains a safety issue across the region, despite the number of GPS jamming and spoofing incidents reported in the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf decreasing during November.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Strait of Hormuz. November 2025 – Electronic Interference:
Electronic interference, including GPS spoofing, has been reported by ships approaching the Strait of Hormuz.
2. The Strait of Hormuz. 14 November 2025 – Vessel Seized:
When transiting the Gulf of Oman 20 nm east of Khor Fakkan, UAE, the Marshall Islands–flagged product tanker TALARA was harassed by 3 Iranian vessels before being seized by armed military vessels from two helicopters. Contact with the vessel was lost after boarding. The vessel was located along the Iranian coast a few hours later. Iranian sources later disclosed that the event was connected to the transportation of unauthorised cargo. The ship was carrying high-sulphur gas oil. It is likely that there was a financial dispute or legal issue behind this event.
5. Regional Report: West Africa and Gulf of Guinea
Monthly Activity
The Panama-flagged oil tanker MT MERSIN experienced explosions on its hull when it was anchored off Dakar, Senegal. The ship is linked to trade in Russian oil and is alleged to be part of the Russian shadow fleet. Reports suggest that limpet mines were detonated on both sides of the ship. There are no reports of any casualties, and the Senegal authorities are attempting to keep the vessel afloat. Two ships were boarded in separate incidents in the Port of Lagos. A cargo ship was boarded by pirates 75nm northwest of Bata, Equatorial Guinea; the crew mustered in the citadel, and the robbers left later after being unable to take control of the ship. Human migration events continued along the Atlantic coast of West Africa, with over 900 migrants being intercepted or rescued in incidents ranging from The Gambia to the Canary Islands.
Maritime Incidents
1. Gulf of Guinea. 7 November 2025 – Armed Boarding/Attempted Hijack (Equatorial Guinea):
When transiting from Houston, USA, to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, about 75 nm northwest of Bata in Nigerian waters, the cargo vessel UAL AFRICA was boarded by pirates. The crew mustered inside the citadel, and after trying unsuccessfully to enter the citadel, the pirates left the ship. A security company sent a security vessel to support UAL AFRICA.
2. Gulf of Guinea. 13 November 2025 – Boarding and Theft (Nigeria):
The duty crew onboard an anchored tanker spotted three robbers near the paint locker and immediately reported the situation to the bridge. The alarm was raised and the crew mustered. Seeing that the crew were alerted, the robbers escaped with ship’s stores.
3. Gulf of Guinea. 15 November 2025 – Armed Boarding (Ivory Coast):
A ship was boarded at night when anchored at Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Four men armed with knives tried to enter the accommodation area. They also tried to break into a container on the aft of the ship. The watchman had a scuffle with one of the intruders. After the altercation with the watchman, the intruders went back to their boat and rowed away.
4. Gulf of Guinea. 25 November 2025 – Boarding (Nigeria):
A vehicle carrier was boarded at Tin Can Island port, Lagos, Nigeria. There are no further details on the incident, but the Marine Unit of the Ports Authority Police (Western) Command believes it may be connected to a criminal gang they recently arrested at the port.
5. Gulf of Guinea. 27 November 2025 – Explosion (Senegal):
The Panama-flagged tanker MT MERSIN suffered four external explosions while at anchor off Dakar, Senegal. Besiktas Shipping, the vessel’s technical manager, confirmed the explosions had occurred, causing seawater to flood the engine room. The company stated that the situation was immediately brought under control and emphasised that all crew members remained safe with no injuries, loss of life, or pollution reported. MT MERSIN is alleged to be affiliated with the Russian shadow fleet.
6. The Atlantic Ocean. 3 November 2025– Migration Incident (Senegal):
A pirogue carrying around 100 migrants arrived on Ngor beach in Dakar. According to the information received, it had come from Gambia and had stopped off at the Saloum Islands.
7. The Atlantic Ocean. 8 November 2025 – Migration Incident (The Gambia):
The Gambian navy intercepted 180 migrants (163 Gambians, 2 Guineans, and 15 Senegalese) near Dog Island in the Gambia River delta. The migrants were embarking on a journey of more than 900 nautical miles to the Canary Islands.
8. The Atlantic Ocean. 14 November 2025 – Migration Incident (Canary Islands):
Spanish maritime rescue services rescued two boats carrying a total of 355 migrants south of the island of El Hierro.
9. The Atlantic Ocean. 25 November 2025 – Migration Incident (Canary Islands):
Two boats with 292 migrants were intercepted in waters near the Canary Islands. The migrant boats were intercepted by the Maritime Rescue. One boat carrying 171 individuals was taken to La Restinga, El Hierro, while the other, with 121 people on board, arrived at Los Cristianos, Tenerife.
10. The Atlantic Ocean. 26 November 2025 – Migration Incident (Mauritania):
A drifting pirogue carrying 186 migrants, including 30 minors, was rescued off the coast of Nouadhibou, where they were disembarked and taken into care by the Mauritanian emergency services. Six of them, suffering from severe hypothermia and dehydration, were hospitalised in critical condition.
11. The Atlantic Ocean. 27 November 2025 – Migration Incident (Canary Islands):
A small boat arrived from the West African coast with 45 migrants on board and landed on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
6. Regional Report: South East Asia
Monthly Activity
There was an increase in boardings and theft from ships in the Singapore Straits last month, with five incidents recorded; however, this is still significantly lower than at the start of 2025. A ship was boarded by robbers in the Belawan anchorage in Indonesia, but the ship’s crew discovered the thieves, and they left the vessel empty-handed.
Significant Maritime Incidents
1. Singapore Strait. 15 November 2025 – Boarding and Theft:
A bulk carrier was boarded while underway in the eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) 7 nm southwest of Pulau Takong, Indonesia. The crew discovered footprints on the engine room floor and a broken padlock on the engine room storeroom. A search revealed that there were no perpetrators on board, and engine spare parts and fire hose nozzles were stolen.
2. Singapore Strait. 15 November 2025 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
It was reported that a robbery occurred on a tanker whilst underway in the TSS of the Phillip Channel. The Chief Engineer found armed intruders in the engine-room workshop. The crew raised the general alarm and made a PA announcement. The intruders threatened the engine room crew with machetes and metal rods before fleeing. After a search, the crew discovered that engine spare parts had been stolen.
3. Singapore Strait. 15 November 2025 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
A chemical tanker was boarded while underway in the eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait TSS 2nm southwest of Pulau Takong, Indonesia. The crew spotted two perpetrators armed with swords in the engine room. immediately upon their discovery, the perpetrators escaped with auxiliary engine spares. All the crew were safe.
4. Singapore Strait. 20 November 2025 – Boarding and Theft:
A tug which was towing a barge reported that the barge LKH 7887 had been boarded when transiting in the east of the Singapore Strait. The perpetrators boarded the barge and transferred scrap metal from the barge. Scrap metal was reported stolen.
5. Singapore Strait. 24 November 2025 – Boarding:
An unauthorised boarding was reported involving a Cyprus-flagged bulk carrier as the vessel transited the Phillip Channel. The crew reportedly sighted two perpetrators armed with knives on the accommodation deck. The alarm was raised, and a search was conducted. No items were reported missing and all crew accounted for with no injuries
6. Regional Report: South America and Caribbean
Monthly Activity
Throughout November, the U.S. increased its military presence across the Caribbean as part of Operation Southern Spear, deploying a full carrier strike group centred on the USS Gerald R. Ford to the region. The U.S. has reactivated Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico as a logistical hub to sustain operations in the region. The U.S. has continued to carry out air and sea strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, alleging they were carrying drugs as part of a declared war on “narco-terrorism.” The Caribbean Safety and Security Network (CSSN) reported four incidents involving robbery of equipment and pleasure craft across the Caribbean Sea during November. Events took place across the region, including Martinique, Panama, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Maritime Incidents:
1. The Caribbean. 16 November 2025 – Theft (Martinique):
While the owner slept on board a yacht in St. Anne, a dinghy and an outboard were stolen.
2. The Caribbean. 19 November 2025 – Theft (St John, US Virgin Islands):
Overnight, a centre console dinghy and 40HP Yamaha outboard, which was left unlocked at the Cruz Bay dinghy dock, was stolen.
3. The Caribbean. 28 November 2025 – Theft (Martinique):
A dinghy was stolen overnight from a yacht in the Le Marin anchorage.
4. The Caribbean. 28 November 2025 – Theft (Panama):
A small boat and an outboard motor were stolen from a yacht berthed in Marina Carenero, Bocas del Toro. It was recovered the next day, minus the outboard motor.
5. The Eastern Pacific. 16 November 2025 – Narcotics-Related Incident (Pacific Ocean):
The U.S.Southern Command stated that its forces carried out a strike on a boat that was allegedly
carrying drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.