The German Navy's Maritime Command in Hamburg has issued a situation assessment and warning notices

The situation in the Persian Gulf remains tense. Israel and the USA are engaging targets in Iran with stand-off weapons. With Status as at 12 March 2026 the neighbouring states were merely defending themselves after being attacked with ballistic missiles and drones. A British military base in Cyprus was also hit by a drone. Two strikes were also registered in Azerbaijan and NATO defence systems intercepted several missiles over Turkey. At this stage, only defensive means have been used.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz (SoH). They attack civilian ships both in the strait and in the access routes if they are travelling or intend to travel through it. Attacks on civilian shipping outside this sea area and the use of sea mines in the shipping lanes have not yet been reported. Since 3 March, only one to six ships have passed through the SoH every day (previously around 130 daily).

AIS and GPS are severely disrupted, especially around the Strait of Hormuz. Up to 600 disruptions were observed within 24 hours. In addition, navigation and communication devices were disrupted electronically. Since the beginning of the war, a total of 18 merchant ships have been hit in the Persian Gulf, some of which have suffered severe damage (list below).

The attack on the ATHE NOVA (IMO 9188116) has turned out to be a hoax. Other „attacks“ on ships (e.g. PRIMA), which the IRGC has claimed responsibility for, have also turned out to be false reports. These are probably intended to cause confusion and panic. At present, the possibility of escorting ships out of the area by military convoy is not yet considered feasible. According to other nations, several countries are working - sometimes jointly - on options to organise a military escort as soon as the situation has stabilised. This will take time and cannot be realised within a few days.

The situation in the harbours is tense

There were drone attacks on LNG liquefied natural gas plants in Qatar on 2 and 4 March, including in Ras Laffan. Production was suspended and the operator declared force majeure. On 2 and 4 March, the Ras Tanura refinery near Dammam/Saudi Arabia was hit and oil production was halted. Between 7 and 10 March, there were several attacks on the offshore energy facilities off Al Jubail/Saudi Arabia, located slightly to the north, during which the oil drilling vessel ARABIA III was hit. On 9 March, there was an attack on an oil refinery in Bahrain - the fire is under control, but oil deliveries have been suspended. On 11 March, several fuel tanks in the port of Salalah/Oman were hit and sparked a large fire.

In Iraq, all oil harbours have suspended operations following the shelling of Basra. In Oman, some harbours are only operating to a limited extent. In Qatar, the harbours are largely in operation. In Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, all harbours are said to be in operation.

There are around 130 ships with a German connection in the Persian Gulf. Almost all of the passengers on Mein Schiff 4 have disembarked, and the remaining passengers on Mein Schiff 5 should be able to fly home by the end of the week. A container ship with a connection to Germany is said to have been hit and significantly damaged on the morning of 12 March - the crew is unharmed.

It is also assumed that Iran still has sufficient missiles and drones to be able to carry out attacks in the Persian Gulf in particular. The large number of attacks in the last two days confirms this. Although the regular navy is almost non-existent, the Revolutionary Guard still appears to have small arms, drones and missiles available in the area. Iranian attacks are currently also targeting the maritime infrastructure of the countries bordering the Persian Gulf as far as the Omani coast in the Arabian Sea. During the attacks, there is a risk that civilian ships on site may be damaged unintentionally - both by attacks from Iran and by defence measures taken by the neighbouring states (e.g. falling debris with residual explosives). These dangers must also be assumed on shipping routes and anchorages/roadsteads.

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have announced the resumption of attacks against shipping, but have not yet implemented them.

All ships and crews are in direct danger - they cannot leave the region and are stranded. Attempting to pass through the SoH at this time is considered highly dangerous. The Naval ship management recommends that no attempt be made. The potential threat to the Persian Gulf and neighbouring regions is estimated at RISK LEVEL - CRITICAL indicated.

LIST of damaged ships

SKYLIGHT (IMO 9330020): Chemical tanker (Palau). Hit on 28/02 north of Khasab (OMN). 4 crew members injured; evacuated, sunk.
- MKD VYOM (IMO 9284386): Crude oil tanker (Marshall Islands). Hit on 01/03 in the Gulf of Oman. The ship is adrift and severely damaged; 1 fatality confirmed, unit evacuated. Severe damage to the hull above the waterline and fire in the engine room.
- HERCULES STAR (IMO 9916135): Product tanker (Gibraltar). Hit on 01 March, 20 nautical miles northwest of Dubai. Fire was extinguished.
- STENA IMPERATIVE (IMO 9666077): Oil/chemical tanker (USA). Hit in the harbour of Muharraq (Bahrain). Fire extinguished; crew evacuated.
- GOLD OAK (9806342): Bulk carrier (Panama). Side hit on 03/03 at anchor in Fujairah (UAE).
- SAFEEN PRESTIGE (9593517): Container ship (Malta). Hit on 04. 03. Projectile went through the ship, fire broke out. Crew has abandoned ship.
- SONANGOL NAMIBE (9325049): Crude oil tanker (Bahamas). Hit on 04/03 at anchor in Iraqi waters, water ingress and spillage of ballast water.

- MUSSAFAH 2 (9522051): Tug (UAE). Hit on 06/03 on the way to salvage the SAFEEN PRESTIGE, hit by two missiles. 4 dead, 3 injured.
- ARABIA III (8771332): Drilling vessel (Liberia). Hit on 07 March, fire under control, one injured, crew reduced to minimum.
- MAYUREE NAREE (9323649): Bulk carrier (Thailand): Hit on 11/03, fire under control, minimum crew (4) remains on board.
- STAR GWYNETH (9301031): Bulk carrier (Marshall Islands): Hit on 11/03, holes in hold and ballast tank, vessel heeled over.
- ZEFYROS (9515917): Oil and chemical tanker (Malta): hit on 11 March during ship-to-ship transfer (STS) with SAFESA VISHNU, fire, one fatality.
- SAFESA VISHNU (9327009): Crude oil tanker (Marshall Islands): Hit on 11/03 during STS with ZEFYROS, fire.
- SOURCE BLESSING (9243198): Container ship (Liberia): hit on 12 March, fire extinguished (German reference).