Weekly Maritime Report

Monday 11 August to Monday 18 August 2025

Dear Client,

Please find below our most recent Weekly Maritime Security Report. 

If you have any queries please contact us at africaops@castorvali.com.

Executive Summary

Total Number of Incidents this Week: 1

Americas: 0

Europe: 0

Key developments from the last week and seven-day forecast:

• West Africa: Armed attack on passenger boat in Rivers State, Nigeria. Multiple attacks by the same group indicate a persistent threat to maritime traffic in the area; Ongoing security concerns in the Gulf of Guinea despite low incident count this week. Historical patterns suggest continued vigilance is necessary.
  • 7-day forecast ↗️: High likelihood of continued attacks on vessels in Rivers State and surrounding waters. Vessels transiting Nigerian coastal waters advised to maintain heightened security measures and consider armed escort where permissible.
• Indian Ocean: Absence of incidents does not indicate reduced threat. Ongoing geopolitical tensions and historical patterns warrant continued alertness, particularly in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
  • 7-day forecast ➡️: Persistent threat of maritime incidents in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden likely to continue. Vessels advised to maintain maximum possible distance from Yemeni coastline and follow latest BMP guidelines.
• Southeast Asia: No reported incidents this week, but substantial threat level maintained. Continued risk of robbery and theft in high-traffic areas like the Singapore Strait.
  • 7-day forecast➡️ : Expected continuation of robbery and theft attempts in the Singapore Strait and surrounding waters. Vessels recommended to enhance vigilance, particularly during night transits, and maintain strict watch rotations.
• Europe & Americas: Absence of reported maritime security incidents across all regions this week. 
  • 7 day forecast Europe ➡️: Low incident rate expected to persist, with potential for isolated cases of migrant vessels in distress in the Mediterranean. Vessels advised to maintain normal security protocols and be prepared to render assistance if required.
  • 7-day forecast Americas ↘️: Slight decrease in maritime security incidents anticipated, particularly in previously high-risk areas. Vessels still recommended to exercise caution when anchored or operating in territorial waters of countries with known security issues.

To view this week's complete report, please click link below:

 Terminology

All findings are predictive and estimative. To communicate these findings clearly and in order to accurately compare threat levels, the report uses a variation of terminology used by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Castor Vali has adopted the definition of piracy similar to that given in the BMP. Content within the linked document above uses the term ‘piracy’ which includes all violent and non-violent acts against vessels, her crew and cargo which have taken place either in internal waterways, territorial waters or deep offshore. Castor Vali classifies piracy incidents into six categories:

• Hijacking – Crew lost control of the vessel for a sufficient period of time and then pirates kidnapped at least one crewmember and/or passenger(s).
• Pirate Attack – Vessel was attacked with gunfire or RPG fire and/or then boarded the vessel with the intent to hijack and/or kidnap at least one crewmember(s) and/or passenger(s).
• Robbery – Vessel is boarded with criminal intent, theft does not have to occur.
• Suspicious Activity – Suspicious activity reported (i.e. a vessel was approached by unidentified craft with one or more persons on board) or sighting of firearms and boarding equipment on board a suspicious vessel and/or sighting of a confirmed pirate mother ship.
• General Alert – A reported incident has been released by authorities to notify seafarers of a possible incident which is still being investigated/confirmed. This can also be a warning of an imminent Danger to seafarers.
• Caution – An unconfirmed warning of an incident that could affect seafarers.

Disclaimer
You have received this report as part of your organisation’s subscription. Castor Vali assessment and advice is given based on the information received and processed by us and the surrounding circumstances known to us to exist at the time. Subsequent changes to relevant information or the surrounding circumstances may affect the reliability of our assessment and advice, but we do not accept responsibility for that effect. We do not accept responsibility for the outcome of any action taken or not taken as a result of our assessment and advice unless the possibility of that action being taken or not taken is set out in specific terms in our instructions.

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