War Risks Cover: FAQs Implications for Owners and Charterers Trading in the Persian/Arabian Gulf, and Adjacent Waters. Updated 04 March 2026 Articles Published: March 04, 2026 Download article pdf Following the recent military escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran, Members trading in the Persian/Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman are facing a materially heightened risk environment. The conflict has included large scale air and missile strikes, Iranian retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region, and explicit maritime warnings issued to commercial shipping, with reports of collateral damage to merchant vessels and significant disruption to maritime traffic. A number of Members have asked how Club cover may respond to liabilities arising from incidents connected with the current hostilities, whether as vessel Owners or Charterers. The following FAQs are intended to provide a general overview of the interaction between “customary” P&I Club cover and Hull War P&I liability policies and, therefore, how Club cover may respond to liabilities Members of the Club may incur as either a vessel Owner or Charterer. The Club Rules:  The War Risks wordings of the Club’s Owners ( Rule 21 ) and Charterers ( Clause 16 ) Rules are set out in full at the end of these FAQs but these provisions of the Club’s Rules exclude “liabilities, costs or expenses ……. when the incident in respect of which such liability arises, or such costs or expenses are incurred, was caused by”:  war, civil war, revolution, rebellion, insurrection or civil strife arising therefrom, or any hostile act by or against a belligerent power or any act of terrorism;   capture, seizure, arrest, restraint or detainment (barratry or piracy excepted) and the consequences thereof or any attempt threat; mines, torpedoes, bombs, rockets, shells, explosives or other similar weapons of war, save for those liabilities, costs or expenses which arise solely by reason of:   t