critical|Insurance03 Mar 2026, 16:24 UTC

Lloyd's Expands Gulf War Risk Zone to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar — Premiums Surge Fivefold

London's marine insurance market has expanded the Gulf war risk zone to include Bahrain, Djibouti, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar following U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iran, with premiums surging fivefold and adding hundreds of thousands of dollars per shipment. Logistics operators must immediately reassess insurance coverage and freight cost structures for all voyages transiting the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Horn of Africa corridors. Carriers may face pressure to blank sailings or demand shipper-borne surcharges as underwriters reprice or restrict capacity across the expanded high-risk zone.

Rate Direction

Rates up +40.00%

Time Horizon

immediate

Confidence

78%

Routes Affected

Strait of Hormuz / Persian Gulf / Red Sea / Suez Canal / Indian Ocean / Cape of Good Hope

Ports / Terminals

Jebel Ali / Bandar Abbas / Fujairah / Port Said / Salalah / Djibouti / Kuwait City / Muscat / Doha / Manama

Carriers

MSC / Maersk / CMA CGM / COSCO / Hapag-Lloyd / Evergreen / ONE / Yang Ming

Source

https://gcaptain.com/gulf-war-risk-insurance-zone-expanded-lloyds/

published 03 Mar 2026, 16:24 UTC

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