Maritime Incident Report: October 2025
Executive Summary
Our monthly Maritime Incident Report: October 2025 covers maritime security and incidents throughout the Indian Ocean, Europe, West Africa, South East Asia and South America for the period 01/10/25 – 31/10/25.
• Europe: Over 90 irregular migration events were recorded in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas in October. French authorities boarded an oil tanker which was suspected of being connected to drone incursions over Denmark. Russia and Ukraine traded attacks on ports in the Black Sea.
• Red Sea and Gulf of Aden: Despite the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis have yet to announce an end to attacks on commercial shipping. An explosion occurred on a Cameroon-flagged LPG tanker, forcing the crew to abandon ship. Sightings of suspicious small boat activity were reported in the Gulf of Aden.
• Indian Ocean and Somali Basin: The MSCIO reported a possible pirate-related incident off the coast of Somalia, and a commercial ship reported sighting a potential pirate mothership, as improved weather conditions led to increased small-boat activity.
• The Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman: UKMTO reported a reduction in the level of electronic interference in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
• West Africa and Gulf of Guinea: The number of maritime security incidents in the Gulf of Guinea has risen, with ships being boarded off the coast of Ghana and in the Luanda anchorages, Angola. Two vessels reported finding stowaways following port calls in Lagos. There was an increase in the number of Irregular Migration events reported in the Canary Islands.
• Southeast Asia and South China Sea: The recent decrease in criminal activity in the Singapore Strait has continued; however, elsewhere in the region, robbery and boarding incidents have occurred in Indonesia.
• Latin America, South America and the Caribbean Sea: The U.S. conducted interception operations in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea against a craft it suspected of narcotics smuggling. The Caribbean Safety and Security Network (CSSN) reported at least five incidents involving theft and other criminal activity across the Caribbean Sea in October.
1. Regional Report: Europe
Monthly Activity
French authorities boarded an oil tanker which was suspected of being connected with drone incursions over Denmark. Ukraine carried out attacks on a Russian oil storage facility in Feodosia, Crimea, with reports of collateral damage to commercial ships in the vicinity. Russia conducted attacks on Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea at Chornomorsk and Pivdenny. Port infrastructure was damaged during a Russian drone attack on the Danube River port of Izmail. Nearly 100 irregular migration events took place across the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea, with events occurring in Spain, Tunisia, Libya, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, 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. 9 October 2025 – Conflict Activity:
The port of Chornomorsk, Ukraine, was damaged overnight. Various local media sources indicate that an area within the port was set on fire following a drone attack, which also damaged private residences and a petrol station. The local electricity supply was also severely affected.
2. The Black Sea. 13 October 2025 – Conflict Activity:
A Ukrainian strike hit the Russian oil facilities in Feodosia, Crimea. According to media reports citing official Ukrainian sources and reports from Russian sources on social media, at least five storage tanks were hit in the strike, likely carried out by long-range aerial drones or missiles.
3. The Black Sea. 20 October 2025 – Conflict Activity:
A Russian strike reportedly hit the Ukrainian port of Pivdenny. According to local authorities, a Russian combined missile and drone strike caused some undisclosed damage to port infrastructure.
4. The Black Sea. 21 October 2025 – Conflict Activity:
Infrastructure was damaged at the port of Izmail, Ukraine, during a drone attack on the city. Energy and port infrastructure were reported as being damaged. The attack resulted in multiple fires breaking out. No casualties have been reported, but critical infrastructure is reportedly running on generators as a temporary measure.
5. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 3 October 2025 – Irregular Migration (Spain):
26 migrants rescued in the waters south of Formentera Island.
6. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 3 October 2025 – Irregular Migration (Italy):
The rescue ship HUMANITY 1 (German flag), belonging to the NGO SOS Humanity, rescued 41 migrants aboard a rubber dinghy. The event took place approximately 23 nautical miles south-southeast of Lampedusa, in the Maltese SRR, in very poor weather conditions.
7. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 7 October 2025 – Irregular Migration (Turkey):
On Tuesday morning, the Greek Coast Guard conducted a search and rescue operation off the coast of Lesvos, following a distress signal from a boat carrying 38 migrants of North African origin. 34 migrants were rescued while four others, including a man, two women and a girl, were found unconscious and later died.
8. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 9 October 2025 – Irregular Migration (Spain):
84 migrants were rescued by the Spanish Guardia Civil off the Balearic Islands.
9. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 13 October 2025 – Irregular Migration (Spain):
A total of 22 people of Maghreb origin, with at least four children, arrived in an area near the beach of La Herradura, on the Costa Tropical of Granada. The migrants arrived on a pneumatic boat with a high-powered engine. The Civil Guard has arrested them all on arrival.
10. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 20 October 2025 – Irregular Migration (Crete):
45 migrants were intercepted on the island of Gavdos, and 36 others, including a South Sudanese smuggler, were assisted 1,000 yards from the island by a patrol boat participating in the Frontex Poseidon operation. On the same day, two boats were rescued, respectively, 50 nautical miles and 41 nautical miles south of Crete, with a total of 110 migrants onboard, including three suspected smugglers from Egypt, Bangladesh, and Sudan.
11. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 22 October 2025 – Irregular Migration (Malta):
A sailing boat carrying around 35 migrants, mainly Somalis, capsized and sank approximately 43 nautical miles south-east of Malta (near Lampedusa), in the Maltese SRR. The boat had left Al Khoms (Libya) two days earlier. The Italian coastguard patrol boat DATTILO rescued 11 people and recovered seven bodies from the upturned hull. The body of a pregnant woman was also found in the water. The survivors and bodies were taken back to Lampedusa.
12. The Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. 30 October 2025 – Irregular Migration (Greece):
The Kalymnos Port Authority was notified of the presence of a group of individuals in the Hali area. Officers of the Hellenic Coast Guard immediately went to the scene, where they located and gathered a total of 85 migrants. The migrants were safely transported to the port of Kalymnos, while five of them were taken as a precaution to the Kalymnos General Hospital for medical examinations.
13. The English Channel. 1 October 2025 – Maritime Incident:
The Benin-flagged oil tanker BOROCAY, suspected of being part of Russia’s “shadow fleet”, was boarded off the coast of western France by French naval forces after failing to justify its flag state and being linked to the transport of sanctioned Russian oil. The French authorities are believed to have acted because of Danish government concerns that it may have been used as a launch pad for drones that have targeted Danish airspace, surveyed Danish military facilities and forced the temporary closure of Copenhagen airport.
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 are yet to announce an end to attacks on commercial shipping despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The Cameroonian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker MV FALCON suffered an explosion (non-conflict related) and caught fire off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden. Most of the 26-member crew were rescued; however, two crew members were reported as missing and presumed to be still on the ship. Between 3 and 7 October, UKMTO reported multiple instances of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) interference affecting vessels in the Red Sea; however, the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) reported that overall, there was a slight decrease in the number of ships experiencing GPS interference in the Red Sea during October.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Red Sea. October 2025 – Electronic Interference:
The JMIC received 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 Gulf of Aden. 9 October 2025 – Suspicious Approach:
A merchant vessel reported sighting four speedboats attempting to approach at approximately 12°17N 043°59E. The four skiffs manoeuvred around the vessel at an approximate distance of 1-2nm. No attempt was made to board the ship.
3. The Gulf of Aden. 18 October 2025 – Vessel Explosion:
UKMTO reported an incident 116 nm east of Aden, Yemen. The LNG vessel MT reported an explosion. According to the crew, the incident resulted from an explosion deemed an accident and not caused by an external factor/influence. Of the 26 crew members onboard, 24 were evacuated safely by responding vessels, but 2 of the crew members are missing and presumed dead.
4. The Gulf of Aden. 21 October 2025 – Suspicious Sighting:
A merchant vessel, which was sailing westbound within the IRTC, 102 nm south-southeast of Mukalla, Yemen, reported sighting a swarm of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), at a distance of approx. 4-5 nm bow /starboard side, loitering from south to north direction, with their navigation/ position lights on. No hostile activity was reported, and the vessel continued sailing to her next port of call. The UAVs’ movement seemed to be synchronised and were visible with binoculars.
3. Regional Report: The Indian Ocean and Somali Basin
Monthly Activity
Improved weather conditions are believed to be behind reports of sightings of groups of small craft acting suspiciously in the region. The inter-monsoonal season traditionally sees an increase in fishing activity and other pattern of life (POL) activity, which can be confused with possible pirate activity. An incident off the Somali town of Garacad involving the attempted seizure of two Iranian dhows is thought to be linked to Illegal fishing activity.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Indian Ocean. 5 October 2025 – Suspicious Sighting:
A Portuguese-flagged tanker sighted a mother vessel accompanied by three skiffs (a total of four craft) at a distance of 4–5nm, near position 12°56.8’N / 063°04.3’E, approximately 500nm east of Socotra Island, Somalia. None of the craft was transmitting on AIS. The vessel maintained a safe distance by increasing speed and altering course.
2. The Indian Ocean. 28 October 2025 – Suspicious Activity:
It was reported that a possible Pirate Action Group was active off Garacad (Somali coast). Later reports stated an unknown number of unidentified elements hijacked an Iranian-flagged Dhow near the Garacad area, while another Dhow escaped the scene of the incident. The Puntland authorities have arrested and prosecuted several Iranian and Yemeni dhows for illegal fishing in recent months. It is thought this incident could be linked to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activity.
4. Regional Report: The Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman
Monthly Activity
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 October.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Strait of Hormuz. October 2025:
It has been reported an increase of GNSS interference, including “AIS speed anomalies” from vessels operating in the UKMTO Voluntary Reporting Area between the 3rd and 7th of October 2025. It is encouraged that all vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz maintain a vigilant watch, including recognising all GNSS interference, and recommend not relying entirely on electronic navigation methods and/or autopilot while transiting through areas prone to GNSS interference.
2. The Strait of Hormuz. 3 October 2025 – Electronic Interference:
Approaching the Strait of Hormuz en route to Jebel Ali, a ship reported that its GPS was reporting an incorrect position. The vessel employed terrestrial means of navigation by Radar range and bearing, and used transit bearings to ascertain the ship’s position.
5. Regional Report: West Africa and Gulf of Guinea
Monthly Activity
A boarding was reported at the Takoradi anchorages in Ghana, and a vessel reported finding 10 intruders on the ship as it transited from Lagos to Tema, which were later identified as stowaways. Another vessel transiting from Warri, Nigeria, to Lomé, Togo, was approached by a small craft with three persons on board who were acting aggressively. Human migration events continued along the Atlantic coast of West Africa, and over 800 migrants were rescued in 14 recorded incidents off the coast of Senegal and in the Canary Islands.
Maritime Incidents
1. Gulf of Guinea. 18 October 2025 – Boarding (Ghana):
The crew of a ship anchored off Takoradi noticed that some of their equipment had vanished. Further investigation revealed that unknown persons have been on board. Checking the surveillance video, four people had been on the main deck between 00:01 and 00:32, stealing loose items such as paint and hydraulic hoses. The thieves had climbed over the railing gates on our starboard side.
2. Gulf of Guinea. 16 October 2025 – Suspicious Activity (Nigeria):
When leaving Lagos anchorage, Nigeria, the containership SEASPAN LAHORE reported that the crew spotted one person trying to board the vessel. The bridge was alerted, and the alarm was raised onboard. Hearing the alarm, the perpetrator escaped.
3. Gulf of Guinea. 21 October 2025 – Suspicious Approach (Benin):
When transiting from Warri, Nigeria, to Lome, Togo, 33nm south of Cotonou in Benin waters, an LNG tanker was approached by a small craft. The small craft was a wooden boat with three men on board, wearing casual clothes and life jackets. The small craft approached the vessel on the port side and acted in an “agitated and aggressive manner”. No weapons or ladders were sighted. A Benin Navy arrived, causing the small boat to leave. It was assessed that the men were likely to be fishermen angry about having their drifting nets damaged.
4. Gulf of Guinea. 30 October 2025 – Suspicious Activity (Ghana):
The RORO vessel, GRAND VENUS, reported intruders onboard when transiting from Lagos, Nigeria, to Tema, Ghana. The alarm was raised and the Ghanaian authorities alerted. The authorities sent a security vessel to the arrival buoy. Ten individuals were arrested, who the Ghanaian police assessed to be stowaways.
5. The Atlantic Ocean. 9 October 2025 – Migration Incident (Canary Islands):
A wooden boat carrying 53 migrants arrived under its own power at the dock in La Restinga, on the island of El Hierro, where they were taken into custody by Spanish authorities.
6. The Atlantic Ocean. 13-14 October 2025 – Migration Incident (Canary Islands):
A boat carrying 206 migrants was detected and intercepted 7nm nautical miles south of Punta Rasca, in the south of Tenerife. On 14 October, a patrol boat intervened less than 10nm south of the island of El Hierro to assist a boat from Senegal carrying 230 sub-Saharan migrants.
7. The Atlantic Ocean. 18 October 2025 – Migration Incident (Canary Islands):
52 sub-Saharan migrants aboard a rubber dinghy were rescued by Salvamento Marítimo 61 nautical miles north-east of Tan-Tan (Morocco), in the Moroccan SRR, after authorisation from the Moroccan authorities, and disembarked in Arrecife (Lanzarote).
8. The Atlantic Ocean. 25 October 2025 – Migration Incident (Senegal):
A small boat arrived carrying migrants at the fishing dock in Mbour, Senegal. Authorities arrested a total of 34 migrants (19 Gambians, 10 Senegalese, and 5 Guineans). The boat had left Gambia two days earlier, hoping to reach the Canary Islands.
9. The Atlantic Ocean. 28 October 2025 – Migration Incident (Senegal):
A Senegalese navy patrol boat rescued 138 migrants aboard a cayuco in distress off the coast of Mbour. The migrants, who were from sub-Saharan Africa, had come from Gambia and were attempting to reach the Canary Islands. They were detained in a naval base in Dakar.
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. There was only one incident reported in the Singapore Strait in October, compared to twenty in June 2025. Elsewhere, a ship was approached by suspected robbers off Balikpapan, Indonesia, and a vessel was boarded, and theft of ship’s stores took place in Indramayu, Indonesia.
Significant Maritime Incidents
1. Singapore Strait. 16 October 2025 – Boarding:
While transiting the Phillip Channel, an unnamed cargo vessel was boarded by robbers. Two armed robbers, armed with knives, were spotted inside the engine room. The perpetrators fled as soon as they were discovered. Nothing was reported stolen, and the crew reported as safe.
2. Indonesia. 15 October 2025 – Criminal Activity (Makassar Strait):
The Indonesian Coast Guard apprehended suspected thieves operating in the waters north of the Makassar Strait. After receiving information about two suspicious wooden vessels, the coast guard team approached the location and raided one of the craft, which was carrying two machetes, seven shovels, three cell phones, and five suspected criminals.
6. Regional Report: South America and Caribbean
Monthly Activity
The US military carried out at least eight operations against alleged drug smuggling vessels during October. In the latest incidents, an alleged Colombian drug vessel was destroyed in the eastern Pacific, killing four people, and in the Caribbean, a drug-carrying Submarine was destroyed, killing two crew members. The Caribbean Safety and Security Network (CSSN) reported five incidents involving robbery of equipment and pleasure craft across the Caribbean Sea during October. Events took place across the region, including Martinique, Panama, Trinidad and Bonaire.
Maritime Incidents:
1. The Caribbean. 6 October 2025 – Theft (Panama):
Overnight thieves used a handsaw to cut the lock securing an outboard and cayuco fishing boat tied at a private dock. The engine was stolen from the cayuco, and the fuel tank from another launch, before both were set adrift. The launch and cayuco were recovered the next morning, minus the engine and the fuel tank.
2. The Caribbean. 16 October 2025 – Theft (Bonaire):
A dinghy / 9.8HP Suzuki outboard tied to the dock was stolen overnight. The dinghy minus the engine was recovered in Port Bonaire the next day.
3. The Caribbean. 15 October 2025 – Attempted theft (Trinidad):
At 0330hrs the crew of a catamaran berthed at Crews Inn heard footsteps on deck. The captain went topside and interrupted 4 to 5 men in balaclavas rummaging in backpacks and luggage that had been left in the cockpit area earlier that day. He began yelling, and they jumped onto the dock and ran toward shore. Nothing was stolen.
4. The Caribbean. 24 October 2025 – Theft (Panama):
Overnight, while the owners slept on board in Linton Bay, Panama, a cable-locked dinghy and outboard were stolen. A report was made to the police in Portobello.
5. The Caribbean. 25 October 2025 – Theft (Panama):
While the owners slept on board their yacht near Isla Grande, Panama, the engine, fuel tank, and battery were stolen from their dinghy. The engine was cable locked to the dinghy, and the dinghy cable locked to the yacht. A police report was made.
6. The Caribbean. 19 October 2025 – Vessel Destroyed:
The American military rescued two people after striking a submersible vessel as part of an ongoing operation in the Caribbean. The Trump administration has ordered the campaign to target what the US president has called “narcoterrorists trafficking illegal drugs”.
7. The Eastern Pacific. 29 October 2025 – Vessel Destroyed:
Four people were killed in a U.S. military airstrike on an alleged drug boat in the Eastern Pacific. The boat was believed to be carrying narcotics from Colombia.