Peninsula has confirmed the missing HERCULES STAR seafarer was found deceased, raising the September 9 casualty off Dubai to two fatalities.
Italy is meanwhile preparing naval protection for merchant shipping at Bab el-Mandeb, while a fresh tanker security warning remains active in Hormuz.
1. HERCULES STAR Death Toll Rises to Two
• Peninsula confirmed on September 17 that the crew member missing since the HERCULES STAR casualty had been found deceased, taking the confirmed death toll to two.
• HERCULES STAR, IMO 9916135, was damaged on September 9 approximately 24 nautical miles northwest of Port Rashid, UAE. IMO recorded no pollution from the casualty.
• Peninsula had previously confirmed one death and one missing seafarer following the incident involving the oil-products tanker while it was at anchor off Dubai.
• All remaining crew members have now been repatriated, with the company continuing support for the affected seafarers and families.
• No further details establishing the precise cause of the casualty have been released. The incident should therefore remain treated as a confirmed vessel casualty without attributing the fatalities to a specific weapon or attack mechanism.
2. Italy Prepares Naval Protection for Bab el-Mandeb Shipping
• Italy is preparing for a possible naval mission to safeguard its merchant shipping as security concerns increase around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
• Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the Italian Navy was being activated to prepare the measures required to guarantee safe passage for Italian vessels.
• Specific naval assets, deployment timing, escort procedures and merchant-vessel reporting requirements have not yet been publicly detailed.
3. Hapag-Lloyd Adds Emergency Cost to Jeddah-Aden Cargo
• Hapag-Lloyd has arranged a third-party feeder solution for Aden-bound cargo currently held in Jeddah because of the security situation around Bab el-Mandeb.
• A Middle East Emergency Surcharge of USD 1,700 for a 20-foot dry container and USD 3,400 for a 40-foot dry container applies to the alternative movement.
• Reefer charges rise to USD 2,200 and USD 4,400 respectively, while dangerous-goods containers attract USD 2,500 and USD 5,000.
• The surcharge applies in addition to applicable freight, War Risk Surcharge and other relevant port charges.
• Cargo interests using the arrangement must also make the necessary customs-clearance and collection arrangements after containers reach Aden.
4. TREND Security Incident Adds Fresh Hormuz Warning
• NAVAREA IX Warning 324/26 reports that oil tanker TREND was involved in a security incident in the Strait of Hormuz.
• The vessel was reported anchored at 26°25.60’N 056°24.00’E, approximately 2.6 nautical miles northeast of Ras Makhbuq.
• Mariners operating in the area have been explicitly cautioned. The warning does not specify casualties, damage or pollution.
• IMO said on September 16 that it had verified 80 attacks on international shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since February 28.
• Those attacks have resulted in at least 22 confirmed seafarer deaths and injuries to others, reinforcing crew safety as the primary voyage-risk consideration across the current Gulf security environment.
Strategic Summary & Actions Required
• Masters and ship managers should place crew exposure and survivability ahead of schedule, cargo pressure, freight economics or apparent route availability when approving voyages through active security-threat areas.
• Gulf and Red Sea voyage approvals should include current security intelligence, Master consultation, crew-risk acceptance, war-risk insurance position, flag guidance, emergency deviation criteria and shore-side escalation arrangements.
• CSO, DPA and marine teams should review protected muster locations, bridge vulnerability, firefighting readiness, emergency steering, medical response, communications redundancy and procedures following any drone, missile, small-craft or unexplained security incident.
• Operators considering Bab el-Mandeb passages should obtain confirmed naval-reporting or protection instructions directly from competent authorities rather than assuming that announced naval preparations constitute an available escort service.
• Chartering and cargo teams should separately price security surcharges, feeder changes, delays and war-risk costs without allowing commercial pressure to override the Master’s assessment of crew and vessel safety.
Operational Status
CRITICAL RED | Two Confirmed HERCULES STAR Seafarer Fatalities / Bab el-Mandeb Naval Protection Preparations / Fresh TREND Security Warning / Crew-Safety and Voyage-Authorization Pressure
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Sources
Peninsula / Ship & Bunker, IMO, Reuters, Hapag-Lloyd, NAVAREA IX
This update is part of the DeepDraft SITREP series covering developing maritime operational situations.
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