MARITIME — Attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea resumed last week. The Houthis claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers on 23 July. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez called the attacks indefensible the same day, and pressed for the immediate and unconditional release of seafarers still held captive in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region. On 24 July the UN Secretary-General's spokesperson warned the attacks risk widening the current cycle of escalation and drawing Yemen deeper into regional conflict. The shift worth noting is in institutional language rather than in the threat, which both bodies frame as a resumption.
REGULATION — Martyn's Law is expected to commence in spring 2027. The two figures that determine obligations are now clear: standard tier covers 200 to 799 people present at the busiest point, enhanced tier 800 or more. Standard tier requires notifying the SIA of the responsible person and putting evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication procedures in place. Enhanced adds monitoring, movement control, physical security and information security, plus documentation that must be assessed and submitted to the regulator. Childcare, education and places of worship stay in standard tier whatever their capacity.
The SIA's consultation on its section 12 enforcement guidance closed on 12 June. Final guidance is due before commencement, and the implementation period runs at least 24 months from Royal Assent on 3 April 2025.
WHAT WE ARE WATCHING — Whether naval posture or war-risk insurance pricing moves on the Red Sea routes in the coming weeks, and the publication of the SIA's final section 12 guidance.
