Members are invited to consider the most recent Risk Intelligence reports provided at the annexes as follows:-

• Annex A – Red Sea Updates
• Annex B – Northern Black Sea Updates
• Annex C – Monthly Intelligence Report

Annex A summarises the last week’s security updates from across the Middle East. In Gaza, the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel remains formally in place, but continuous violations are occurring, and no progress has been made on the further stages of the peace plan. Further, the Houthis show no signs of ending their campaign in the Red Sea, as they have not endorsed but recognized the Gaza ceasefire, suggesting they may be more sensitive to ceasefire violations.

Annex B summarises the last week’s security updates in the Black Sea region, where Russian forces continue to target civilian Ukrainian energy infrastructure and the greatest threat to vessel remains collateral damage.

Annex C provides a monthly intelligence update covering West Africa, the Western Indian Ocean, and Southeast Asia; along with a security analysis on the effect of rising geopolitical tension on maritime insurers. Piracy, cyberattacks, geopolitical turbulence, and increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics are forcing companies to rethink their traditional approaches to safeguarding ships, crews, and cargoes. The increasingly complex security landscape is now requiring insurers to be creative and adapt policies to dynamic, shifting threats across the supply chain.

In accordance with the scope of the agreement between ICS and Risk Intelligence, members are requested not to circulate the report further in its entirety. Members may precis the report or use extracts from it to help advise members on key issues or to assist in enquiries. In such cases, Risk Intelligence should be acknowledged as the source of the information.