Maritime Incident Report: September 2026
Executive Summary
Our monthly Maritime Incident Report: September 2026 covers maritime security and incidents throughout the Indian Ocean, Europe, West Africa, South East Asia and South America for the period 01/09/26 – 31/09/26.
• Europe. Maritime attacks in the Black Sea continued, with Russian strikes affecting Ukrainian port and logistics infrastructure. Ukraine carried out attacks against Russian Black Sea grain export terminals at Novorossiysk, Taman and Taganrog, disrupting Russia’s regional export capacity.
• The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis seized the port of Mocha and Perim Island, potentially exposing commercial shipping to increased threats in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Somali pirate activity continued in the Gulf of Aden, including the boarding of MV GLAMOR and a separate attempted interception east of Aden.
• The Indian Ocean and Somali Basin. Three vessels held by Somali pirates were freed following action by the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), and another was released following the payment of a ransom. It was reported that at least five crew members and several pirates were killed during the rescue operations.
• The Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The Strait of Hormuz remained the world’s most active conflict-related maritime hotspot. UKMTO and other regional authorities recorded repeated projectile strikes against tankers and cargo vessels, causing fires, casualties and vessel evacuations. Commercial oil and LNG movements increased despite the continuing threat.
• West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. The region remained comparatively stable, with no reports of offshore piracy, kidnapping, or oil-related crime. Nevertheless, credible underlying criminal threats remain, with a vessel boarded and robbed at the Luanda Anchorages.
• Southeast Asia and the South China Sea. The regional maritime security authority ReCAAP reported several incidents of opportunistic maritime crime, including two vessels boarded in the Singapore Strait and further incidents of robbery and theft elsewhere in the region. Armed boardings were also reported against vessels operating in the Philippines and Indonesian waters, highlighting the continued threat throughout Southeast Asia.
• Latin America and the Caribbean Sea. Theft and burglary affecting yachts continued across the Caribbean, including incidents in Martinique, Grenada, Curaçao and Cartagena. An offshore supply vessel was also boarded and robbed in the Gulf of Mexico. Narcotics interdiction and trafficking activity remained a significant maritime-security concern in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
1. Regional Report: Europe
Monthly Activity
The Black Sea remained Europe’s principal maritime-security hotspot during September. Russia continued attacks against Ukrainian ports, logistics nodes and vessels alleged to support the Ukrainian war effort, while Ukrainian strikes continued to affect Russian export infrastructure. By late September, damage to major grain terminals at Novorossiysk, Taman and Taganrog had removed about one-fifth of Russian Black Sea/Sea of Azov grain-export terminal capacity from immediate operation. The operating environment for commercial shipping therefore remained characterised by direct attack, collateral damage, port disruption and rapidly changing port access conditions.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Black Sea. 3 September 2026 – USV attacks:
Ukrainian naval surface drones attacked Sochi Seaport, Krasnodar Krai, Russia. The OSV NEFRIT was struck during the attack. An explosion was also reported near a Russian Pantsir air-defence system, which may have been another target. Damage and casualty information remain unknown.
2. The Black Sea. 5 September 2026 – UAV attack:
When transiting the Black Sea off the coast of Türkiye, the tanker SIREN was reportedly struck by a UAV. The vessel sustained damage to its accommodation block; however, the full extent of the damage and crew status remained under assessment. No injuries, fire, oil spill or abandonment of the vessel were reported. The vessel had departed Mumbai, India, and was sailing towards an undisclosed destination in the Black Sea.
3. The Black Sea. 5 September 2026 – UAV attack:
Russian forces reportedly conducted UAV strikes against commercial vessels at Chornomorsk and Odesa ports, Ukraine. Two dry cargo vessels and one containership were reportedly hit at Chornomorsk Port, while another dry cargo vessel was hit at Odesa Port. Vessel names, damage and crew status were not reported. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that Geran-4 Seeker UAVs were used and alleged that the vessels were transporting military equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces. These claims remain independently unverified.
4. The Black Sea. 7 September 2026 – UAV attack:
The Somali-flagged tugboat TEDY was reportedly struck by a UAV while operating off Odesa. The vessel subsequently came under two further UAV attacks overnight while underway toward Constanța, Romania. Two Azerbaijani nationals were killed; six other crew members were injured and treated at the scene. The vessel proceeded toward Constanța following the attacks. Damage extent and exact attack locations remain unconfirmed.
5. The Black Sea. 9 September 2026 – USV attack:
Ukrainian forces struck one Russian Project 12150 MANGUST-class high-speed patrol boat in Kozacha Bay, Sevastopol, Crimea. The vessel reportedly sustained damage, the extent of which remains under assessment. No information concerning casualties has been reported. The MANGUST-class is a fast patrol craft measuring approximately 20 metres in length. It can reach speeds of up to 50 knots and normally carries a crew of six.
6. The Black Sea. 9 September 2026 – USV attack:
Ukrainian forces conducted a reported UAV/long-range strike against the Russian naval and port complex at Novorossiysk. Ukrainian authorities subsequently confirmed that at least three Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels were struck during the operation. Reported maritime targets included ZHELEZNYAKOV, a small naval minesweeper; ADMIRAL ESSEN, a Project 11356 guided-missile frigate and Kalibr cruise-missile carrier; and PYOTR MORGUNOV, a Project 11711 large landing ship. Ukrainian reporting also stated that fuel-oil/mazut storage facilities within the Novorossiysk port complex were struck, with fires reported at the port fuel terminal.
7. The Black Sea. 18 September 2026 – UAV attack:
Russian forces conducted a UAV strike against Chornomorsk Port, Ukraine. Two unidentified cargo vessels and reportedly one tug were hit, while port infrastructure was also damaged. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed the targeted facilities were used to unload and store military supplies and that the vessels were carrying weapons for Ukrainian forces. Odesa regional authorities and maritime observers rejected these claims, stating that the vessels were engaged in legitimate commercial operations supporting the global food supply chain.
8. The Black Sea. 17 September 2026 – UAV attack:
The cargo vessel MARIAM M was struck by a UAV while sailing towards Izmail, Ukraine. The vessel’s exact position at the time of the attack remains unknown. The master was killed, and three crew members were injured. The vessel sustained damage to its superstructure and deck. The full extent of the damage remains under assessment.
9. The Black Sea. 23 September 2026 – UAV attack:
An unidentified Antigua and Barbuda-flagged cargo vessel was struck by a Russian UAV off Odesa, Ukraine. A fire broke out onboard, and 15 crew members were evacuated. The Ukrainian master was killed. The fire was later extinguished. The exact location remains unknown.
10. The Black Sea. 29 September 2026 – Missile/UAV attack:
Two unidentified foreign-flagged vessels were reportedly struck during Russian attacks in Ukraine’s Odesa region. Ukrainian authorities reported both vessels were hit; Russia claimed one was at sea and the other in Odesa port. Exact positions, vessel identities, damage extent and crew status remain unconfirmed.
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 security picture remained elevated and complex. Houthi-Saudi confrontation continued to create a conflict-related threat for vessels with Saudi or Israeli ownership or trading affiliations. The Houthis took control of the strategically located southern Yemen port of Mocha and Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, previously held by government forces, increasing the potential threat to vessels transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Houthi representatives reportedly gave assurances during September that European shipping would not be targeted; however, such statements do not remove the risk of misidentification, collateral damage or renewed targeting as regional hostilities evolve. Somali piracy remains a resurgent criminal threat in the Gulf of Aden. On 10 September, six suspected pirates boarded MV GLAMOR southwest of Balhaf, Yemen. The crew shut down the vessel and entered the citadel; international forces responded, and the pirates abandoned the ship. A second tanker reported a skiff attempting to intercept it east of Aden on 17 September.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Red Sea. Area of Electronic Interference.
2. The Red Sea. 10 September 2026 – Piracy/Boarding:
MV GLAMOR, a St Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged merchant vessel, was approached and boarded by a six-person Pirate Action Group approximately 38 nm southwest of Balhaf, Yemen. The crew stopped the vessel, shut down systems and entered the citadel. EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, Combined Maritime Forces and a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft responded. The pirates abandoned the vessel, and all crew were reported safe.
3. The Gulf of Aden. 10 September 2026 – Suspicious Approach:
UKMTO initially reported an unidentified skiff approaching a cargo vessel approximately 98 nm southwest of Al Mukalla, Yemen; subsequent reporting linked this to the GLAMOR incident.
4. The Gulf of Aden. 17 September 2026 – Attempted Interception:
A westbound tanker approximately 75 nm east of Aden reported that a skiff pursued and attempted to intercept the vessel. Authorities investigated the incident.
3. Regional Report: The Indian Ocean and Somali Basin
Monthly Activity
Somali Pirate Action Groups continued to demonstrate the capability to operate beyond the immediate Somali coast and into the Gulf of Aden. September activity supports the assessment that the 2026 resurgence is sustained rather than temporary. Vessel vulnerability remains driven by speed, freeboard, watchkeeping, preparedness and the ability to deny pirates control of the ship. BMP Maritime Security measures, early reporting and appropriately licensed armed security remain important risk controls. Three vessels, SIBU 1, HONOUR 25 and MT EUREKA, were recovered following PMPF operations. However, it was reported that five crew members from HONOUR 25 were killed by pirates during the rescue operation. A fourth vessel, MV SWARD, was released following the reported payment of a ransom. MT ASANA remains the only merchant vessel reported to be held by Somali pirates.
Maritime Incidents
1. The Somali basin. 11 September – Vessel Released:
MV SWARD was released near Garacad after what appears to have been a pirate-negotiated release following a reported ransom payment, rather than a vessel liberated by the PMPF.
2. The Somali basin. 25 September – Vessel Released:
Puntland authorities confirmed that security forces successfully freed SIBU 1 from Somali pirates following a counter-piracy operation along the Mudug coastline that began two days earlier. The operation reportedly resulted in three fatalities and several injuries following an armed confrontation between security forces and the pirates. Forty-one suspected pirates were initially arrested. On 25 September, while the detainees were being transported from the coast towards Puntland’s capital, 28 reportedly escaped. Thirteen were subsequently recaptured, and one suspect was fatally wounded during the search operation.
3. The Somali basin. 29 September – Vessel Released:
Puntland forces attacked the HONOUR 25 to rescue the detained crew. During the operation, two members of the pirate group were reportedly wounded, while the remaining individuals suspected of involvement in the hijacking were captured and detained. It was subsequently reported that five crew members from HONOUR 25 had been killed by the pirates before the PMPF assault: three Pakistani nationals, one Indian national and one Myanmar national.
4. The Somali basin. 29 September – Vessel Recovered:
The suspected pirates controlling the vessel MT EUREKA abandoned the vessel and escaped before PMPF forces could reach and engage them. Initial reports suggest they fled after becoming aware that PMPF forces were approaching following the recent HONOUR 25 incident. Sources reported that the suspected pirates attempted to take the vessel towards the shoreline and set it on fire. Preliminary reports indicate that more than 18 individuals suspected of involvement in piracy have been arrested. Security forces are reportedly continuing operations to locate additional individuals believed to have information concerning the detained vessels.
4. Regional Report: The Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman
Monthly Activity
The Strait of Hormuz remained highly volatile throughout September, with UKMTO and other regional authorities recording more than twenty Iranian attacks or suspected attacks against commercial vessels operating in the region. The US also reported that it had conducted more than 125 vessel interceptions since commencing its blockade enforcement operations against Iran. Several commercial vessels were disabled or damaged during the reporting period, with crew casualties also recorded. Incidents remained concentrated in and around the Strait of Hormuz, particularly in the vicinity of the Khasab and Musandam approaches.
Significant Maritime Incidents
1. Strait of Hormuz. 1 September 2026 – Vessels Struck:
While anchored off Iran’s coast north of the Strait of Hormuz, the tankers HAWK and SINOPA were reportedly struck by US UAV-launched missiles. Both vessels sustained hits to their engine rooms.
2. Strait of Hormuz. 5 September 2026 – Vessel Destroyed:
While located in Iranian waters in the northern Gulf of Oman, the unladen tanker KYLO, also known as NOXEN, was struck and destroyed by US forces. The crew evacuated the vessel before the attack and was reported safe. US CENTCOM stated that the attack was conducted in retaliation for an earlier IRGC missile attack against two US Navy vessels. (US CENTCOM)
3. Strait of Hormuz. 9 September 2026 – Vessel Attacked:
While anchored approximately 24 nm northwest of Port Rashid, UAE, the Gibraltar-flagged oil products tanker HERCULES STAR was struck by an unknown projectile. A third-party vessel subsequently reported that the tanker was listing, possibly indicating water ingress. The vessel’s operator confirmed that one crew member was killed and another was reported missing.
4. Strait of Hormuz. 12 September 2026 – Vessel Struck:
An unidentified Iranian commercial vessel was reportedly struck by an unknown projectile near Hengam Island and the Shib Deraz coast of Qeshm Island, in Iranian waters. The incident reportedly resulted in one fatality and three injuries. The type and origin of the projectile remain undetermined. Iranian authorities are investigating the circumstances of the incident. Further details regarding the vessel’s identity, damage and operational status have not been disclosed.
5. Strait of Hormuz. 14 September 2026 – Vessel Struck:
The passenger/cargo vessel ST HELENA was reportedly struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel’s exact position and the extent of any damage or casualties remain unknown.
6. Strait of Hormuz. 17 September 2026 – Vessel Struck:
The Togo-flagged tanker TREND reportedly sustained an unknown projectile strike approximately 16 nm northeast of Khasab, Oman. Iran’s IRGC Navy claimed it struck the tanker during an attempted transit, causing a fire and stopping the vessel. The claim remains unverified; crew status, damage extent and environmental impact were not specified in the supplied report.
7. Strait of Hormuz. 21 September 2026 – Vessel Struck:
An LPG tanker transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz was reportedly struck by debris from unidentified projectiles. All crew were reported safe, with no environmental impact reported. The vessel remained underway to its next port.
8. Strait of Hormuz. 25 September – Vessel Struck.:
The Antigua and Barbuda–flagged CAPE DAO was struck by an unidentified projectile, which killed one crew member and injured another, while approximately 2.5 nm off the coast of Musandam, Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.
9. Strait of Hormuz. 28 September 2026 – Vessel Struck:
An unidentified vessel reportedly sustained a suspected projectile strike while transiting towards the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire. The fire was extinguished, and the vessel remained underway with all crew reported safe. No environmental impact was reported; a damage assessment was unavailable. UKMTO received the information through a delayed third-party report. The exact location remains unknown.
5. Regional Report: West Africa and Gulf of Guinea
Monthly Activity
No offshore piracy or armed robbery incidents against commercial shipping were identified in September. However, the regional threat remains underpinned by armed robbery, kidnapping, oil theft and criminal activity in the Niger Delta and coastal waters. Port and anchorage theft remains more likely than a long-range pirate attack against a merchant vessel. Only one maritime security event was reported in September, involving a robbery from a vessel in Luanda Anchorage, Angola.
Maritime Incidents
1. Gulf of Guinea. 14 September 2026 – Armed Boarding:
Two intruders boarded the MEO SOVEREIGN 2 while it was anchored at Luanda Outer Anchorage, Angola. A duty crew member discovered the intruders inside a starboard-side store near the winch area. One intruder, armed with a machete, threatened the crew member before both escaped in a small boat. The suspicious craft initially remained astern before departing the area. Luanda Port Control was notified, and marine police attended at 0220 hrs to investigate and patrol the vicinity. No injuries or damage were reported.
6. Regional Report: South East Asia
Monthly Activity
The regional maritime security authority ReCAAP reported several incidents of opportunistic maritime crime, including two vessels boarded in the Singapore Strait and further incidents of robbery and theft elsewhere in the region. A work vessel under tow in the South China Sea was boarded on 2 September, with ship’s stores subsequently reported stolen. Armed boardings were also reported against vessels operating in the Philippines and Indonesian waters, highlighting the continued threat throughout Southeast Asia.
Maritime Incidents
1. Singapore Strait. 2 September 2026 – Boarding and Theft:
While transiting the South China Sea near the Singapore Strait, the tug ENG HUP TERRA, towing the workboat ENG HUP ATLAS, reported that a sampan approached the tow. The exact location of the incident remains unknown. Five to six unidentified individuals boarded ENG HUP ATLAS and stole equipment valued at approximately USD 20,000.
2. Singapore Strait. 17 September 2026 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
Four robbers boarded the cargo vessel MINERAL KIKU while transiting the Philip Channel, Singapore Strait. The perpetrators, armed with knives and gun-like objects, were sighted in the engine room. The general alarm was raised, and the crew mustered. A subsequent search found no intruders onboard; however, engine spares were reported stolen. The Singapore authorities were notified. All crew were reported safe.
3. Philippines. 4 September 2026 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
An unidentified containership was boarded by four robbers while anchored at Manila North Anchorage, Philippines. One perpetrator, armed with a knife, threatened a crew member before the group escaped with ship’s property. The crew were reported safe.
4. Philippines. 15 September 2026 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
The LNG tanker SHARQ was boarded by two knife-armed perpetrators while anchored in Batangas Bay, Philippines. The incident was discovered after footprints were found near the forward hawse pipe. CCTV confirmed the boarding, and equipment was reported stolen from the forecastle area. The crew were safe.
5. Indonesia. 7 September 2026 – Boarding and Theft:
Four unauthorised persons boarded an unidentified cargo vessel at Jakarta Anchorage, Indonesia, from a small wooden boat. The alarm was raised, prompting the perpetrators to escape with stolen engine spares. Jakarta VTS and the vessel’s local agent were notified. All crew were reported safe.
6. Regional Report: South America and Caribbean
Monthly Activity
Narcotics trafficking and incidents of robbery against commercial and private vessels continue to be the primary threats in this region. US forces resumed interdictions against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean, as a joint US-Ecuador operation intercepted and subsequently sank a trafficking support vessel on 28 August; Colombian forces also seized more than 1.4 tonnes of cocaine from a go-fast vessel off Bolívar. Armed robbers boarded a jack-up rig in the Bay of Campeche and stole items of the rig’s equipment. The Caribbean Safety and Security Network (CSSN) reported three events involving robbery and theft from pleasure craft across the Caribbean; the events took place in Martinique, Grenada and Panama.
Maritime Incidents:
1. The Caribbean. 5 August 2026 – Theft (Panama):
Several yachts were anchored in the Red Frog anchorage. Overnight, thieves stole a Yamaha 15HP outboard from a dinghy lifted in the davits of an occupied and well-lit catamaran. The engine was chain-locked and also through-bolted to the dinghy transom. The galvanised chain was cut, and the bolts were removed. The thieves left the dinghy suspended in the davits.
2. The Caribbean. 11 August 2026 – Multiple Thefts (Grenada):
Between 2230 and 0400, at least four private boats were burgled and ransacked in Mt Harman Bay.
3. The Caribbean. 27 August 2026 – Violent Incident (Martinique):
An English-speaking cruising couple and their dogs were snorkelling in shallow water along a rocky shore south of Plage Anse Tonnoir beach. A man approached on swimming noodles and began yelling at them in French. He left, and 3-4 minutes later a coconut-sized rock was thrown off the adjacent 40 ft. cliff and splashed about 3-5 feet behind their heads. Several larger rocks were thrown by the man who could be seen through the trees by the road. Luckily, none of the rocks struck the couple or the dogs. They quickly gathered the dogs into the dinghy and departed.
4. Mexico. 9 August 2026 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
A pirate group boarded the Jack-Up drilling rig SANDUNGA located off Ciudad Del Carmen, in Campeche Bay, Mexico. Finestra Energia reported that individuals boarded the platform from a coastal vessel. According to the report, security protocols were activated, rig personnel were gathered in a secure area, and access points were closed as a precautionary measure. The relevant maritime authorities were also notified. The Navy conducted surveillance patrols in the vicinity of the facility. The company stated that there were no injuries. Inspections of materials and equipment are currently underway following the discovery that approximately 50 meters of electrical cabling intended for a welding machine was missing.
5. Peru. 9 22 August 2026 – Armed Boarding and Theft:
The crew on an anchored bulk carrier in San Nicholas Anchorage, Peru, noticed two armed robbers near the forecastle store and raised the alarm. The robbers left the scene, and it was discovered that ship’s stores had been stolen.