Global maritime trade has faced increasing security risks across multiple routes simultaneously in recent months. It has been reported that since March, more than 200 commercial ships have been targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Black Sea, with at least 42 sailors losing their lives in the attacks.
The situation shows that maritime transport is not only suffering from the indirect effects of wars, but has also become a direct target of conflicts in certain regions. Energy transport, container lines, and regional trade routes are all being affected by this process.
RISK HAS INCREASED IN THREE CRITICAL REGIONS
It is stated that the most intense activity is occurring in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Following the start of US and Israeli bombardments against Iran on March 1, it was reported that 137 commercial ships were hit in the region. The Strait of Hormuz is of critical importance to global energy markets, with approximately 17.5 million barrels of oil passing through it daily.
October stood out as the most severe period in the region. It was recorded that 35 ships were hit by unmanned aerial vehicles or missiles throughout the month. On October 13, a missile struck the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS PRIDE; the ship sank the following day, while the 21-member crew was rescued. The US held a missile belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for the attack.
In the Black Sea, the Russia-Ukraine war has also become one of the primary security issues affecting maritime trade. It was reported that approximately 86 commercial ships were targeted during the July-September period, and that at least 9 ships were attacked off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria between October 5 and 28, with 5 of them sinking.
It is reported that the heaviest toll in terms of loss of life has occurred in the Black Sea. While 32 sailors lost their lives in the attacks, it was noted that 31 people went missing in the incidents in October alone. These data reveal that commercial maritime transport in the region is facing more severe consequences in terms of human loss than the Hormuz route.
On the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb route, the Houthi rebels in Yemen declaring a blockade on Saudi-linked ships on July 20 increased the perception of risk. It was recorded that the Saudi oil tanker ENCELIA was hit two days later, and that 11 ships have been attacked in the region this year.
The nature of the security problem at sea is also changing. While 51 piracy incidents were recorded in the January-September period, it was stated that this figure has fallen to its lowest level since 1992. However, the main threat to commercial ships is now emerging as the effects of interstate conflicts and regional wars spilling over into sea lanes, rather than piracy.
News Source: 12punto
