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The Strait of Hormuz: Guidance to Members
Escalating geopolitical tensions and recent security developments in the Strait of Hormuz have renewed focus on the legal and commercial risks associated with transiting one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime corridors.
As a principal conduit for hydrocarbon exports from the Persian Gulf to international markets, any deterioration in the operating environment has immediate implications for freight markets, insurance costs, and voyage planning. In this context, stakeholders are closely examining the impact on charterparty performance, including the operation of war risks provisions, safe port warranties, force majeure clauses, deviation rights, and off-hire regimes.
Our Strait of Hormuz page will be updated regularly with updates from our Correspondents as well as our Claims and Loss Prevention Departments.
Guidance to Members
Local Correspondents, Inchcape, are providing Port updates.
These will be linked here as and when updated.
Inchape report:
Inchape report - 20/03/2026 - 10:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 19/03/2026 - 17:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 19/03/2026 - 10:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 18/03/2026 - 17:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 18/03/2026 - 10:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 17/03/2026 - 17:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 17/03/2026 - 10:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 16/03/2026 - 17:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 16/03/2026 - 09:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 15/03/2026 - 17:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 15/03/2026 - 10:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 14/03/2026 - 16:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 14/03/2026 - 10:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 13/03/2026 - 17:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 12/03/2026 - 17:30 UAE LT
Inchape report - 12/03/2026 - 10:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 11/03/2026 - 17:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 11/03/2026 - 10:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 10/03/2026 - 16:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 10/03/2026 - 10:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 09/03/2026 - 17:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 09/03/2026 - 10:30 UAE LT
Inchape report - 08/03/2026 - 17:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 08/03/2026 - 10:30 UAE LT
Inchape report - 07/03/2026 - 16:30 UAE LT
Inchape report - 07/03/2026 - 11:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 06/03/2026 - 16:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 06/03/2026 - 11:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 05/03/2026 - 16:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 05/03/2026 - 10:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 04/03/2026 - 16:30 UAE LT
Inchape report - 04/03/2026 - 10:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 03/03/2026 - 16:30 UAE LT
Inchape report - 03/03/2026 - 11:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 02/03/2026 - 18:00 UAE LT
Inchape report - 02/03/2026 - 10:30 UAE LT
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EoS briefing - 18/03/2026 - 19:00 UTC
18 March - Update: Current threat level in the Strait of Hormuz
EoS briefing - 13/03/2026 - 15:00 UTC
13 March - Update: Current threat level in the Strait of Hormuz
EoS briefing - 11/03/2026 - 15:00 UTC
11 March - Update: Current threat level in the Strait of Hormuz
EoS briefing - 06/03/2026 - 08:30 UTC
Update: Current threat level in the Strait of Hormuz
EoS briefing - 03/03/2026 - 08:00 UTC
Update: Current threat level in the Strait of Hormuz
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SoH - DG Shipping - safety advisory - 6/03/2026
DG Shipping - safety advisory 10 of 2026
Following recent developments, the Association has received notice of cancellation from its reinsurers in respect of war risks liabilities arising within Iranian waters and the Persian/Arabian Gulf. This new exclusion does not apply to Mutual P&I and FD&D cover. Please see our Notice to Members No.1 2026/27 - Notice of Cancellation in respect of non-mutual War Risk Business, for more information.
As noted here, a War buy-back facility has been arranged and is now available to Chartering and Fixed Owned Members. For additional information and to discuss the cover available in further detail please reach out to your usual point of contact in the Underwriting team.
The views expressed below are based on English law. They are general and the contractual, cargo and factual circumstances will be different in each case. This note is therefore intended for general guidance only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Should you require specific advice on a situation please contact the Club.
Please visit: Charterparty Considerations
Astaara Update to interested parties on ongoing US-Israeli War (“Operation Epic Fury”) with Iran - 12 March 2026
Astaara on Iranian cyber capability - 12 March 2026
West is proud to have partnered with Astaara, a cyber risk services company dedicated to providing integrated, holistic risk management solutions for the maritime industry. For further information, see here.
For queries and general information, please contact us.
Latest Notice to Members
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Notices to Members 02 Mar, 2026No.1 2026/27 - Notice of Cancellation in respect of non-mutual War Risk Business
Following the recent developments, the Association has received notice of cancellation from its reinsurers in respect of war risks liabilities arising in Iran and Persian/Arabian Gulf. This new exclusion does not apply to Mutual P&I and FD&D cover.
![Bart Mertens]()
Bart MertensChief Underwriting Officer -
Notices to Members 28 Jan, 2026No.16 2025/26 – Class 1 & 2 Rule Changes for 2026
An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Class 1 and Class 2 Members of the Association was held on Tuesday, 27 January 2026 in the Hotel Le Royal, 12 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg and the following SPECIAL RESOLUTION was passed:
![Olivier Le Bescond]()
Olivier Le BescondGeneral Manager -
Notices to Members 23 Dec, 2025No.15 2025/26 - Class 1 & 2 Rule Changes for 2026
NOTICE is hereby given that an Extraordinary General Meeting of Class 1 and Class 2 Members of the Association will be held at 12:45 hours on Tuesday, 27 January 2026 in the Hotel Le Royal
![Olivier Le Bescond]()
Olivier Le BescondGeneral Manager
Latest News
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News 19 Mar, 2026China - Changes to calculation of pollution fines from 15 August 2026
On 12 March 2026, the National People’s Congress formally adopted the Ecological and Environmental Protection Code (the “Code”), marking a significant milestone in the continued development and consolidation of environmental legislation. The Code is scheduled to come into effect on 15 August 2026.
![Erin Walton]()
Erin WaltonAssistant Corporate Director -
News 17 Mar, 2026Astaara Update to interested parties on ongoing US-Israeli War (“Operation Epic Fury”) with Iran
The purpose of this memorandum is to share information with our shipowners and brokers on known developments within the Persian Gulf from an operational/cyber and insurance perspective. Sources of the content are MTO and associated agencies.
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News 16 Mar, 2026Astaara on Iranian cyber capability - 12 March 2026
In this report we seek to put the cyber threat posed by Iran and its proxies into context. There is a concern that even if peace breaks out, the cyber threat from Iran will remain. We offer some guidance as to the steps our clients should take against some of the known capabilities