Steamship Mutual Issues Hull War Risks Cancellation Notice Amid Persian Gulf and Red Sea Tensions

Published: 3 August 2026 — Marine Insurance & P&I Club News

Citing the evolving situation in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea region, the Directors of Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association (Europe) Limited have exercised their authority under the Club's Rules to issue a notice of cancellation on all Hull War policies. Cover is scheduled to be reinstated effective 00:00 GMT on 10 August 2026, with an updated list of designated High Risk Areas incorporated into the reinstated terms.

The cancellation-and-reinstatement mechanism is a standard procedure used by Protection & Indemnity (P&I) clubs to update Hull War risk terms when geopolitical conditions shift. Member clubs of the International Group of P&I Clubs (IGP&I) typically align their listed areas with the Joint War Committee (JWC) of the London insurance market, which periodically reviews and publishes designated Hull War, Piracy, Terrorism and Related Perils zones. Vessels trading to or through these listed areas generally require specific notification to the insurer and may attract additional premiums.

Key Changes to Listed Areas

Under the amended Hull War, Piracy, Terrorism and Related Perils coverage, the following modifications have been made:

• Saudi Arabia — Amended listing for the Persian/Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Southern Red Sea.
• Persian/Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Southern Red Sea — Area definition amended.
• Eritrea — Listing amended.
• Pakistan — Deleted from the listed areas.

The deletion of Pakistan narrows the northeast boundary of the listed waters, while the amendment to the broader Persian Gulf–Southern Red Sea zone reflects ongoing attention to maritime security threats that have disrupted commercial shipping through one of the world's most strategic trade corridors, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and approaches to the Suez Canal.

Full JWC Listed Areas

The following countries and regions remain designated under Hull War, Piracy, Terrorism and Related Perils:

Africa: Benin, Cabo Delgado (waters as defined below), Eritrea, Gulf of Guinea (waters as defined below), Libya, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Togo.

Europe: Sea of Azov and Black Sea waters, plus inland waters as defined below.

Persian/Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Southern Red Sea: Waters as defined below.

Middle East: Bahrain, Djibouti, Iran, Iraq (including all Iraqi offshore oil terminals), Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

Russia — Listed.

South America: Guyana (applicable only to calls at offshore installations in the Guyanese Exclusive Economic Zone beyond territorial waters), Venezuela (including all offshore installations in the Venezuelan EEZ).

The continued designation of Black Sea and Sea of Azov waters, along with inland waters of Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, reflects the maritime security environment arising from the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict. The Gulf of Guinea listing remains in response to persistent piracy concerns off West Africa, while the Cabo Delgado designation addresses insurgent activity in northern Mozambique.

Defined Waters

Europe

1. Sea of Azov and Black Sea waters enclosed by the following boundaries:
   a) On the west, around Romanian waters, from the Ukraine–Romania border at 45° 10.858'N, 29° 45.929'E to high seas point 45° 11.235'N, 29° 51.140'E
   b) Thence to high seas point 45° 11.474'N, 29° 59.563'E and on to high seas point 45° 5.354'N, 30° 2.408'E
   c) Thence to high seas point 44° 46.625'N, 30° 58.722'E and on to high seas point 44° 44.244'N, 31° 10.497'E
   d) Thence to high seas point 44° 2.877'N, 31° 24.602'E and on to high seas point 43° 27.091'N, 31° 19.954'E
   e) And then east to the Russia–Georgia border at 43° 23.126'N, 40° 0.599'E

2. All inland waters of Ukraine, including inland waters within Crimea and other Ukrainian territories under Russian control.

3. Inland waters of Russia within the following areas:
   a. River Don, from Sea of Azov to vertical line at 41°E
   b. River Donets, from River Don to Ukraine border

4. All inland waters of Belarus south of horizontal line at 52°30'N.

Cabo Delgado

The territorial sea of Mozambique and Tanzania enclosed by the following boundaries:
a) To the north, from Mnazi Bay at 10°19.6'S, 40°18.9'E to high seas point at 10°10.3'S, 40°34.44'E
b) To the south, from Baía do Lúrio at 13°30'S, 40°31.6'E to high seas point 13°29.97'S, 40°49.7'E.

Gulf of Guinea

The waters enclosed by the following boundaries:
a) On the west, from the coast of Togo at 6°06'45"N, 1°12'E, south to
b) High seas point 0°40'S, 3°00'E
c) And then east to Cape Lopez Peninsula, Gabon at 0°40'S, 8°42'E.

Persian/Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Southern Red Sea

The waters enclosed by the following boundaries:
a) On the northwest, by the Red Sea south of Latitude 25.5°N (not including Egyptian territorial waters)
b) On the northeast, from the Pakistan coastline at 25°19'15"N, 65°E
c) On the east, by a line to high seas point 10°48'N, 65°E, thence to high seas point 10°48'N, 60°15'E, thence to high seas point 6°45'S, 48°45'E
d) On the southwest, by the Somalia border at 1°40'S, 41°34'E, to high seas point at 6°45'S, 48°45'E.

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Source: Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association (Europe) Limited