Palaemon Maritime released a maritime security report covering May 24-31, reporting 15 maritime security incidents alongside heightened activity across major corridors globally.
The report points to a foiled suspected pirate attack near the Gulf of Aden and describes multiple other incidents ranging from an explosion off Muscat to warnings about floating naval mines.
Where the report says risk concentrated
The May 24-31 period included heightened activity in the Black Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Finland, Gulf of Guinea, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz.
Piracy and small-craft approach: a foiled Gulf of Aden case
The report describes a suspected pirate attack that was foiled near the Gulf of Aden, with the Indian Navy deploying a helicopter and a boarding team to protect a merchant vessel.
It also describes an armed skiff approaching a tanker off Yemen, closing the distance before aborting after evasive maneuvers and visible security measures were deployed.
Weapons effects, mines, and other boarding incidents
Beyond piracy, the report says a tanker was damaged by an explosion off Muscat and that multiple authorities issued warnings about floating naval mines in shipping lanes.
It further reports that Russian air and underwater drones hit five ships, including four foreign cargo vessels bound for Turkey and a vessel inside Odessa Port.
On the Ukraine side of the ledger, the report says Ukrainian drones struck a ship in occupied Berdyansk, a Russian oil depot, and three shadow fleet tankers off Turkey.
For explosive countermeasures, it also describes Russian divers disarming two 7kg magnetic mines found on a Liberian LPG carrier anchored at Ust-Luga.
Finally, the report notes an incident in which robbers boarded an anchored offshore supply vessel at Abidjan inner anchorage; the vessel was Antigua and Barbuda-flagged.
Palaemon Maritime’s operating recommendations
Palaemon Maritime recommends that operators watch for UAVs, waterborne drone boats, and floating naval mines in the Black Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
It also recommends security checks at anchor at Ust-Luga and the Gulf of Guinea to counter magnetic hull mines and boardings.
For transit planning, the report recommends avoiding the Strait of Hormuz Traffic Separation Scheme and coordinating transits directly with U.S. naval forces (NCAGS).
It further recommends active deterrence—including armed guards, fire hoses, and evasive maneuvers—to repel small-craft and pirate approaches in the Gulf of Aden, and maintaining a continuous watch on VHF Channel 16 while tracking UKMTO, JMIC, and local NAVWARN alerts.