Maritime Industry Briefing: Hormuz Crisis Deepens, Fire Risk Alarm Raised, and Allianz Warns of New Era of Uncertainty

## IMO Orders Ships to Stand By as Hormuz Evacuation Commences The International Maritime Organization has instructed thousands of vessels operating in the Persian Gulf to remain in position and await further guidance as an emergency evacuation of seafarers trapped in the region gets underway, according to gCaptain. The directive reflects the severity of a crisis that has left large numbers of crew members stranded following months of escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world's most strategically critical maritime chokepoints, through which roughly 20% of global oil trade passes. The IMO's intervention underscores the scale of the humanitarian and logistical challenge now facing the international shipping community, with vessel operators, flag states and crewing agencies all working to coordinate safe passage for affected personnel. ## Containership Fires Occurring Every 17 Days, Misdeclared Cargo Cited as Key Driver A containership fire now breaks out somewhere in the world approximately once every 17 days, according to new data cited by gCaptain, shining a harsh light on the ongoing threat posed by misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods. The frequency of incidents points to systemic failures in cargo declaration practices across global supply chains, with shippers continuing to misrepresent hazardous materials — including lithium batteries, chemicals and flammable substances — in order to avoid regulatory scrutiny or reduce freight costs. Industry bodies and insurers have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, as well as enhanced pre-loading verification processes. The human and financial cost of these fires remains substantial, with incidents capable of destroying vessels, endangering crew lives and disrupting trade lanes for extended periods. ## Allianz: Shipping Has Entered a New Era of Unpredictability Allianz Commercial has issued a stark assessment of the global shipping industry's risk landscape, declaring that 'the age of predictable shipping is over,' according to gCaptain. The insurer warns that the relatively stable operating environment that characterised much of the post-globalisation era has given way to a period defined by geopolitical volatility, fragile supply chains and compounding uncertainty. Factors including regional conflicts, trade policy disruptions, climate-related route changes and cyber threats are cited as contributing to a structural shift in how risk must be assessed and managed. The warning carries significant weight given Allianz Commercial's position as one of the world's leading marine insurers, and is likely to influence underwriting practices, premium structures and risk modelling across the sector in the months ahead. --- *Sources: gCaptain. The Calida Group executive appointment item was excluded as it falls outside the scope of maritime industry coverage.*