GEO-POLITICAL Situation - Regional SAFETY / SECURITY Conditions
This section outlines the regional geopolitical environment and associated safety and security risks. It highlights developments that may affect maritime operations, personnel, vessels, ports, and supply-chain continuity.
Ø RED SEA / SOUTH YEMEN : The southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb are vulnerable to a risk of armed conflict. Heightened tensions between Houthis and Saudi Arabia pose a potential threat of missile, UAV and maritime attacks on Saudi-owned or cargo-laden ships. There are also increased risks of military activity, diversion of routes and disruption of GNSS and AIS signals. Stay away from Yemen as much as possible, be extra vigilant and have backup navigation plans ready.
Ø GULF OF ADEN / SOMALIA: Piracy, robbery, suspicious approaches and stowaways are high-risk threats in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters. Such threats could extend far out to sea, especially to slow, isolated or adrift ships. With heavy traffic, presence of small craft and abnormal navigation data increasing the chance of collision, maintain ISPS level 2, BMP security and citadel preparedness.
Ø ARABIAN SEA SOUTH: Piracy spill-over, suspicious craft activity, regional conflicts and GNSS and AIS disruption are the threats in the southern Arabian Sea. Risk increases near the Horn of Africa, Yemen and the traffic convergence zones. Do not idle and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.
ISPS Compliance - Port's threats / risks levels
This section reviews ISPS-related compliance and the prevailing threat and risk levels at relevant ports. It identifies security conditions that may affect vessel calls, crew safety, port access, and operational continuity.
Ø Yanbu
Port, Saudi Arabia: Yanbu is classified as an elevated
ISM/ISPS situation due to potential conflict in the Red Sea, potential threat
from the Houthis to Saudi-owned ships, and risk of disruption at sea. Maintain
ISPS Level 2 with increased vigilance, heightened access controls, pre-arrival
ship/shore security coordination, navigation preparations, and preparation for
prompt departure. Switch to Level 3 upon instruction or a specific threat.
Ø Galle, Sri Lanka: Galle is under a regular ISM/ISPS situation and is not directly impacted by the Red Sea conflict. Maintain ISPS Level 1 with regular gangway security, visitor inspections, security of stores, and stowaway searches. Switch to Level 2 only upon instruction from the port authorities, the flag state, the CSO, or a specific threat.
Ø
Security guards: Armed
security guards are not regularly advised for Yanbu and Galle. For Yanbu, focus
on readiness for conflict and not anti-boarding guards; at Galle, use only
approved port security guards where a specific risk of access control exists.
But due to the transit being in a high-risk area due to military attacks,
piracy incidents, and piracy leading to hijacking after the port call at Yanbu,
an increased number of security guards is needed even for double routine duty,
especially in case the physical security measures of a vessel have significant
vulnerabilities.
ISPS-ISM Port/terminals facilities - Special Details
This section provides key ISPS and ISM-related details for ports and terminal facilities. It highlights security arrangements, operational requirements, access controls, emergency preparedness, and any facility-specific considerations relevant to vessel calls. ISM-ISPS Ports / Terminals
Ø Yanbu
Port / Terminals: Yanbu is a major Saudi Red Sea oil,
petrochemical and industrial port. Its ISPS/ISM condition is **elevated** due
to Houthi threats against Saudi-linked shipping and a reported tanker strike
offshore. [reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthis-say-they-attacked-ship-off-saudi-arabias-yanbu-no-saudi-2026-08-24/)
Maintain ISPS
Level 2, strict terminal access control, enhanced ship/shore and waterside
watch, controlled cargo operations, reliable communications and readiness for
rapid departure.
Ø
Galle Port / Terminals: Galle
is a Sri Lankan service port supporting bunkering, repairs, crew changes,
stores and limited cargo activity. Its ISPS/ISM condition is generally normal,
with routine risks of unauthorised access, theft, stowaways and small-craft
activity.
Ø
Maintain ISPS Level 1 with firm
gangway control, visitor checks, secured stores, deck patrols and a thorough
pre-departure stowaway search."
Cargo handling in port - Port procedural deficiencies
This section reviews port cargo-handling procedures and identifies deficiencies that may affect turnaround time, cargo integrity, safety, documentation, and vessel operations. Additionally, the "near-real time" port activity can be obtained using the "name" of port or "UN/LOCODE": PORT ACTIVITY
Ø
Yanbu Port / Cargo Handling: Cargo
handling operations in Yanbu may be delayed due to the threat and disruption to
tanker traffic connected with the Red Sea conflict situation. The issues
include reduced loading activities, extra security procedures, changes in
routing, and increased reliance on confidential voyage planning. Vessels should
arrange for all cargo documentation, terminal clearance, security, and quick
departure arrangements before arriving at the port.
[lloydslistintelligence](https://www.lloydslistintelligence.com/resources/blog/red-sea-brief-3-september-2026)
Ø
Galle Port / Cargo Handling: Cargo
handling operations in Galle Port are usually smooth; however, there may be
some restrictions related to a lack of berthing space, storage facilities, and
cargo handling facilities as opposed to larger container ports. The delay may
occur due to the availability of berthing, weather conditions, launching
arrangements, customs clearance, crew change, and local contractor
availability.
Global incident map
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SEA GUARDIAN overall Assessment
This section presents Sea Guardian's overall assessment of the port's operational viability. It consolidates key safety, security, compliance, infrastructure, and procedural considerations relevant to vessel calls and cargo operations.
Ø Yanbu
Port Call: A Yanbu call carries **elevated conflict and
voyage-disruption risk**. Saudi-linked cargoes and Red Sea movements may face
heightened security controls, berth or schedule changes, restricted terminal
activity and short-notice departure requirements. Conduct a security review
before nomination and retain ISPS Level 2 readiness.
[reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthis-say-they-attacked-ship-off-saudi-arabias-yanbu-no-saudi-2026-08-24/)
Ø
Galle Port Call: A
Galle call remains comparatively routine, with normal ISPS Level 1 port
controls. Main considerations are berth/service availability, ship/shore access
control, documentation, stores, crew-change arrangements and stowaway
prevention; no direct Red Sea conflict threat applies in port.
Ø
Yanbu–Galle Route Effect: The
voyage between Yanbu and Galle is affected principally by the Red Sea/Bab
el-Mandeb conflict environment, then by piracy and suspicious-craft risk in the
Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin. A Galle call does not remove the threat
associated with a Yanbu-linked voyage: vessels may remain identifiable through
cargo, ownership, chartering or recent port history. Route planning should
therefore maintain ISPS Level 2 through the Red Sea–Gulf of Aden high-risk
corridor, enhanced watchkeeping and reporting, with security posture reduced
only after clearing the assessed risk area.
[lloydslistintelligence](https://www.lloydslistintelligence.com/resources/blog/red-sea-brief-3-september-2026)
Ø
For SEA RUBY General Assessment: Given
the characteristics of the SEA RUBY, the risk of piracy is considered to be
high when passing through Bab el-Mandeb/High-Risk Area, in accordance with SEA
GUARDIAN corresponding assessed area, analyzed above, it is assessed that a
laden oil tanker, whose freeboard is not less than 7 meters, and whose speed is
11 knots, will be vulnerable to approach, boarding and potential hijack due to
its high vulnerability: vessel speed is rated as Very High (20), cargo as High
(16), while freeboard, hardening, citadel preparedness, bridge protection,
vessel’s surveillance systems and crew’s experience in Hostile Actor Risk
Assessment are High (12). The suggested security concept, which implies hiring
armed personnel, implementing physical hardening measures, and other measures
mentioned above, reduces most of the risks associated with piracy to a low
level.
SEA GUARDIAN Consulting / Brief Forecast
This section provides Sea Guardian Consulting's near-term outlook on operational, safety, security, and geopolitical developments that may affect port calls and cargo operations.
Ø Consulting
Assessment: Treat Yanbu calls and Red Sea–Galle voyages as
**highly dynamic security operations**. Conduct a voyage-specific threat review
before departure, keep ISPS Level 2 through the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden corridor,
and confirm terminal status, routing, reporting and contingency arrangements
immediately before arrival. Galle may remain at ISPS Level 1, but security
posture should not be reduced until clear of the regional high-risk area.
Ø
Monthly Forecast: Over
the coming month, the threat to Saudi-linked shipping and Yanbu-associated
trade is likely to remain elevated, with potential for further tanker
disruption, route changes and short-notice operational restrictions. Somali
piracy and armed-robbery risk in the Gulf of Aden and western Arabian Sea is
also likely to persist or rise, particularly for slow, isolated or drifting
vessels. Plan for continued schedule uncertainty, higher security costs and
possible diversion requirements.
[theguardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/08/hijacking-pirates-somalia-geopolitical-chaos)"