When Geopolitics Shapes the Claim: Casualty Response in a Conflict Environment Articles Joanne Sharma Published: April 13, 2026 Contact author Download article pdf Executive Summary Operating in the Middle East —particularly around the Strait of Hormuz—now involves heightened security uncertainty that can severely limit casualty response. Traditional assumptions about the availability of salvage, towage, firefighting, medevac, pollution response, port access and wreck removal may not hold true due to security risks, access restrictions and contractor reluctance, increasing delay and loss of control. Priorities remain crew welfare and environmental protection, but both are harder to achieve in conflict zones. Owners should mitigate risk through planning, drills, vigilant watchkeeping, early engagement with coastal states and responders including the Club, correspondents and ITOPF, and prompt incident notification. In response to the current situation, the Club has set up a specific resource page on the Steamship Mutual website which Members are encouraged to refer to - Situation in Iran and Middle East Region – and a dedicated team that can be contacted via arabiangulfenquiries@simsl.com . Operations in the Middle East, including potential transits through the Strait of Hormuz, are conducted against the backdrop of an increasingly unpredictable security environment.  In such conditions, the consequences of any casualty are rarely confined to the incident itself; they may be significantly exacerbated by practical and operational constraints that may materially limit the ability to respond. In an active high-risk area, long-standing assumptions regarding the availability of emergency response capabilities – whether salvage, towage, firefighting assistance, medical evacuation, pollution response, port access and wreck removal – may no longer be relied upon. Security concerns may prevent contractors and responders from entering the area, while access may be restrict