Finance
London marine insurers widen high-risk zone in mideast gulf as conflict escalates
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 3, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 3, 2026
Quick Summary
London’s Joint War Committee has designated waters near Bahrain, Djibouti, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar as high‑risk following the Strait of Hormuz crisis, reflecting sharply spiking marine war‑risk premiums amid escalating Middle East conflict.
London Marine Insurers Widen High-Risk Gulf Zone as Middle East Conflict Escalates
Expansion of High-Risk Areas and Impact on Marine Insurance
Background and Recent Advisory
LONDON, March 3 (Reuters) - London's marine insurance market has widened the area in the Gulf it deems as high risk as the conflict in the Middle East escalates, according to an advisory issued on Tuesday.
Role of the Joint War Committee
Guidance from the Joint War Committee, which comprises syndicate members from the Lloyd's Market Association and representatives from the London insurance company market, is watched closely and influences underwriters' considerations over insurance premiums.
Details of the High-Risk Zone Expansion
Newly Added Areas
The JWC added waters around Bahrain, Djibouti, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar to high-risk areas, the statement showed.
Reasons for Revision
The JWC agreed to revise the areas at a meeting on Monday "in light of recent events", the committee's secretary Neil Roberts said in a statement, adding that the geographical areas were among those assessed where vessels were at "increased risk of war-related perils".
Consequences for Shipping and Insurance
Rising Premiums
Gulf war risk premiums have risen fivefold in recent days compared with a week ago - before the U.S and Israel began their airstrikes on Iran - adding hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra costs for every shipment.
Implications for Coverage
Expanding the high-risk area of waterways to connect with other parts of the Gulf region was viewed as a way to close gaps where war‑risk insurance had not previously applied, leaving ships exposed without adequate cover, industry sources said on Tuesday.
Industry Perspective
"The expanded designation (by the JWC) ... helps stabilise global supply chains by reducing uncertainty around the movement of energy, commodities and essential goods," said Munro Anderson of marine war insurance specialist Vessel Protect, part of Pen Underwriting.
(Reporting by Jonathan Saul; Editing by Susan Fenton and Ros Russell)
Key Takeaways
- •The JWC—representing the Lloyd’s market—expanded listed high‑risk Gulf areas to plug coverage gaps and protect supply chains, per its March 3 advisory (en.wikipedia.org).
- •Gulf war‑risk premiums have surged—some regions seeing a fivefold rise to about 1% of vessel value—creating steep costs per voyage (theinsurer.com).
- •Insurers are suspending or cancelling coverage in the Gulf/Oman region as rerouting and surcharges proliferate, heightening freight volatility (barrons.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about London marine insurers widen high-risk zone in Mideast Gulf as conflict escalates
1What areas have been added to the high-risk zone by London's marine insurers?
Waters around Bahrain, Djibouti, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar have been added to the high-risk areas.
2Why did the Joint War Committee expand the high-risk zone in the Gulf?
The expansion was in response to escalating conflict in the Middle East and increased war-related risks to vessels.
3How have Gulf war risk insurance premiums changed recently?
Premiums have risen fivefold within days, adding substantial costs to each shipment.
4Who oversees the designation of marine high-risk zones?
The Joint War Committee, comprising members of the Lloyd's Market Association and London insurance market representatives, oversees this designation.
5How does the expanded high-risk zone affect global shipping?
It helps stabilize supply chains by clarifying insurance coverage for energy, commodities, and essential goods shipments.
