United Kingdom

EU and Global Regulators Step Up Sanctions Enforcement against Russian Shadow Fleet

The European and international authorities escalated sanctions pressure against Russia’s shadow fleet operations in late November 2025. The EU General Court dismissed cases against challenges to sanctions listings while coordinated efforts between OLAF and Europol targeted networks involved in circumvention attempts. Ukraine sanctioned 56 vessels involved in illegal port calls. Canada tripled its shadow fleet designations to 100 vessels.

Maritime Sanctions

US Suspends China Vessel Fees as Maritime Trade Tensions Ease; UK Strengthens Russia Sanctions Enforcement

Following the conclusion of trade discussions between President Trump and President Xi, the United States for one year as of November 10 suspended Section 301 vessel fees on China-linked vessels. In other developments, the UK published extensive guidance regarding how Russia seeks to evade sanctions in maritime sectors focusing on common methods of circumventing sanctions.

US Navy

USS Pierre Commissioned as Independence-Class Program Concludes; Regional Naval Tensions Increase

On November 15th 2025 in Panama City Florida, the US Navy commemorated the commissioning of USS Pierre (LCS 38) - the last of the Independence-class littoral combat ships: marking the end of a class perhaps best exemplified by unexpected hiccups or hiccoughs (we still don’t know the correct spelling!) that delayed some ships and contributed to an overall rocky start to a class that eventually served with distinction. As the rest of the Navy prepared to commission Ship #1 in this new class, tensions in the maritime regions simmered as Chinese naval modernization, Russian exercises in Southeast Asia, and Venezuelan mobilization in response to US Carriers in the Caribbean showed how emboldened global powers were willing to be.

Black Sea

Late November Saw an Increase in Maritime Security Incidents Worldwide

Between 25 November and 1 December 2025 the maritime domain witnessed 18 critical incidents from drug interdictions, to migrants and boat people being rescued, piracy attack vessels, explosion against tankers off Senegal and in Black Sea, and major drug seizures and boat people crises in Mediterranean and Turkish waters. Notably, explosions against tankers off Senegal and in the Black Sea, alongside crises affecting those coming through Euro waters due to crisis migration.