In conjunction with independent security advisers, Herminius, the JWC publishes a list of geographical areas where vessels are considered at increased risk of war-related perils. Ships sailing into the regions appearing on the Listed Areas may require additional war risk coverage.

Rating is a matter for individual negotiation between underwriters and brokers and the JWC plays no role in that. The committee last reviewed the areas in September 2024. The current listed areas are linked below:

JWLA-032 Guyana

JWLA-031 Sudan

The Houthis have announced a truce, though it does not include Israeli-linked vessels. The threat to commercial shipping is thus on hold for now, but hostilities could resume if the ceasefire fails. Houthi forces seek recognition of their regime whilst also trying to change Israeli policy in Gaza.

Since the US withdrew from the JCPOA, tensions between the US and Iran have been raised as Iran’s ability to trade its oil has been steadily eroded. The IMF have shown that restrictions on the use of the dollar or the involvement of any US person or entity has significantly impacted the Iranian economy since 2007, and the US ‘maximum pressure campaign’ magnified the effect.

The direction of US foreign policy and Iranian domestic policy remain opposed and the logical consequence will be continued friction with varying levels of tension. A general threat exists to all vessels in the region and specifically to tankers transiting Hormuz. Iranian and Houthi capability extends beyond the particularly vulnerable Strait of Hormuz itself but Iranian actions have indicated a wish to keep its actions proportionate, one for one.

As an example, the St Nikolas was seized on 11 January 2024 in settlement of a past dispute, but it was not directly connected with Red Sea tensions.

Iran and Saudi Arabia were engaged in a proxy conflict in Yemen. That war was estimated by the UN to have cost 150,000 military casualties and perhaps 377,000 deaths in all. A fragile truce is in place between the Houthis and the Saudis and the Houthis have established de facto control of urban centres in Yemen.

Foreign vessels are currently forbidden from entering Yemeni waters. Yemen does not have an effective navy of their own, so the Egyptian and Saudi navies were mandated to enforce this. There are entry procedures for vessels to enter Hodeidah or Saleef port – a completed form must be sent to the Yemen Ministry of Transport, now based in Jeddah. The system works but is complex.

The overall situation remains unstable so caution is advised. The Listed Areas will be re-adjusted if required by circumstances.

The fighting was centred on the capital Khartoum, 400 miles from the coast. There is assessed to be no immediate threat to shipping and there have been no reports of attacks on ships or port infrastructure. The SAF have full control over Port Sudan and no impact has been reported at other terminals.

Vessels picking up refugees may have to divert to a different port to that originally intended; voyages may be lengthened and there are likely to be logistical and operational consequences.

The shipowners removed their HRA at the beginning of 2023. The JWC continues to maintain its listed area as before. Recent incidents are not considered to be a clear trend requiring expansion eastwards, but the situation is under close watch.

The JWC listed areas are set for business reasons and the Indian Ocean area was never the same as the UKMTO or the industry BMP/HRA areas but does serve to alert parties to the potential dangers. The applicable US Executive Order effectively requires insurers to contact OFAC should they be involved in a piracy case.

Pirate activity is intermittent off Eastern Malaysia and a number of oil cargo seizures have occurred there.

In the Gulf of Guinea, crew abductions are the main threat. Since mid 2021, the number of incidents has notably decreased, but attacks still occur.