Access the latest Maritime Security Threat Advisory for the week commencing 20th June 2023.

👉 Within the last reporting period, Russian officials have doubled down on their threats to end their participation in the UN backed grain deal beyond the 17th July. Notably, Russian officials have repeatedly sought to use brinkmanship in an attempt to force through concessions. Thus far however, Russia appears to have assessed that its immediate interests remain as part of the deal.

👉 In response to concerns over Russia's alleged mapping of critical Western underwater infrastructure and the suspected sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, NATO has established a new center located at its naval headquarters in Northwood, London. The center aims to safeguard undersea pipelines and data cables by enhancing information-sharing among NATO members, allies, and the private sector regarding emerging risks and threats. By improving its detection and response capabilities to underwater threats, NATO hopes to deter Russia from future attacks on vital undersea infrastructure. While Russia denies involvement in the Nord Stream sabotage, NATO officials view it as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by Russia's underwater capabilities.

👉 Within Southeast Asia, officially recorded maritime security incidents continue to outpace those across the same time frame in 2022. Southeast Asia continues to experience relatively high volumes of low-level maritime crime, particularly within the east and west- bound TSS within the Strait of Malacca and Singapore.

👉 The Maritime Administrator of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has revised the Ship Security Level requirements for RMI-registered vessels operating in Yemeni territorial waters and ports, downgrading it to Security Level 2. This decision comes in response to a decrease in incidents following a drone attack on an RMI-registered vessel in October 2022. However, owners and operators of RMI-flagged vessels are strongly advised to carefully evaluate the risks associated with entering Yemeni ports and territorial waters, given the recent warnings and ongoing threats issued by Houthi forces.