Sea warnings

Storm Harry — a powerful Mediterranean cyclone — is rapidly developing and poses significant hazards to marine navigation across the central and western Mediterranean Sea . Mariners should update all voyage plans, avoid non‑essential departures, and monitor official weather and maritime safety broadcasts closely. Meteorological agencies report that a deep extratropical cyclone , locally dubbed Harry , is forming over the Mediterranean. This system is driven by a strong contrast between cold air from northern Europe and relatively warm sea surface temperatures over the Mediterranean basin. Forecast models indicate intensification through Monday 19 January and Tuesday 20 January , with persistent severe weather expected across broad marine areas. Expected Marine Conditions  Wind and Sea State Gale to storm‑force winds expected across extensive Mediterranean sectors. Models suggest max sustained winds potentially exceeding 100 km/h in exposed areas, with very strong gusts...

Recent reports concerning an alleged attack or coercive incident involving a Russian-flagged vessel in international waters have raised questions within the maritime community about potential implications for freedom of navigation and maritime security. While details of the event remain limited and, in some cases, disputed, the situation highlights broader legal and operational sensitivities that merit careful examination. Legal Framework Governing International Waters Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), vessels operating on the high seas are generally subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of their flag state. Exceptions exist, such as cases involving piracy, stateless vessels, or specific internationally recognized enforcement actions. Outside these circumstances, intervention by third states is typically constrained and subject to strict legal interpretation. When an incident occurs involving a vessel properly registered under a national flag, any u...

  Southern Caribbean & Venezuelan Waters Subject: Increased U.S.–Venezuela Tensions – Interdiction & Enforcement Risk Date: 30 December 2025 Validity: Immediate – Ongoing Risk Level: MEDIUM–HIGH Tensions between the United States and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela have escalated in recent weeks, with direct implications for maritime navigation in the southern Caribbean Sea. The United States has intensified naval interdiction, tanker seizures, aerial surveillance, and sanctions enforcement near Venezuelan waters. Venezuela has formally protested these actions, describing them as violations of sovereignty and freedom of navigation, and has raised the issue at the United Nations. While no formal naval blockade or exclusion zone has been officially declared, de facto enforcement actions are underway , increasing operational and legal risk for commercial shipping. KEY DEVELOPMENTS (LAST DAYS) U.S. authorities have seized at least one oil tanker linked ...

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have escalated significantly over recent weeks, with developments that are increasingly relevant for maritime traffic in the Caribbean Sea. While no formal declaration of war has been made, a combination of U.S. enforcement actions at sea , heightened military activity , and strong political rhetoric from Caracas has created a volatile operating environment for commercial and private vessels. For navigators, this situation represents a maritime security risk scenario , rather than a conventional armed conflict.  U.S. Interdiction and Seizure Operations According to Reuters, the United States has already seized at least one tanker carrying Venezuelan oil and is preparing to seize additional vessels suspected of violating sanctions. These actions are being conducted under the justification of sanctions enforcement and counter-narcotics operations. From a maritime perspective, this signals: Increased boarding and interdiction...

 The family of a Colombian fisherman killed during a U.S. military operation in the Caribbean has filed a formal complaint before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), alleging that the United States carried out an unlawful extrajudicial killing. The case marks the first international human-rights challenge linked to the ongoing U.S. campaign of lethal strikes on boats suspected of drug trafficking. Alejandro Andrés Carranza Medina, a 35-year-old Colombian man described by his family as a fisherman, died on September 15, 2025, when his small boat was struck by U.S. military fire in Caribbean waters near Colombia. U.S. forces claimed the vessel was involved in drug-smuggling activities, part of an intensified campaign against transnational narcotrafficking networks ordered by the Trump administration. The U.S. government has not publicly released evidence showing that Carranza was transporting narcotics. His family insists he was at sea to fish for tuna and marlin...

1 December 2025 — International authorities are investigating the deaths of Australian sailor Deirdre Sibly , 67, and French sailor Pascal Mahe , who were found dead aboard their yacht in the Mozambique Channel after issuing a distress signal. Although the circumstances remain unclear, several key facts have been confirmed. Deirdre Sibly, an experienced sailor from Port Lincoln, South Australia, had been at sea for nearly four decades. She had been travelling for several months aboard the French-registered yacht Acteon , accompanied by French sailor Pascal Mahe. The two reportedly met on Réunion Island and had been planning a passage across the Indian Ocean. Their most recent route led them from Réunion towards Durban, South Africa , where Sibly intended to catch a flight back to Australia. The distress signal 🚨 #MAYDAY RELAY 🚨 Sailboat #ACTEON issued a DSC distress call on 26 Nov at 0430 UTC (17°05.00S / 040°05.00E). Two persons onboard, but no signs of life reported since. A...