Rescues and medevacsInjured seafarer evacuated from cargo ship off Cape Town in rough seasNSRI Table Bay evacuated a seriously injured 30-year-old Filipino seafarer from a 229-metre cargo ship 12 nautical miles off Cape Town on 17 October 2026. The ship diverted, and the master and crew helped make the rescue possible.
Security and piracyGulf threat level raised as IMO chief tells ships to avoid the Strait of HormuzJMIC raised the Arabian Gulf threat level to SUBSTANTIAL on 18 October after attacks on tankers off Saudi Arabia, and warned that crowded anchorages off the UAE are exposed. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said ships should avoid the Strait of Hormuz.
Security and piracyPiracy at lowest level since 1992, but Somali hijackings put more crew at riskThe IMB recorded 51 piracy and armed robbery incidents in January-September 2026, the lowest nine-month figure since 1992. But 105 crew were directly affected, up from 72 a year earlier, and Somali pirates carried out all eight hijackings.
Security and piracyBlack Sea: up to 11 seafarers missing after drone strike sinks cargo ship off BulgariaThe cargo ship HS Dignity sank after a drone attack off Bulgaria on 13 October. Bulgaria ended the search on 14 October. Bulgarian officials gave ten crew missing; other reports say 11 of 16 are missing and five survived. A second ship, Chelsea 3, was also hit; all 15 crew were rescued.