The Black Sea has become the world’s deadliest shipping route in 2026, surpassing the Strait of Hormuz.

Intelligence summary

The Black Sea has become the world’s deadliest shipping route in 2026, surpassing the Strait of Hormuz. More than 300 attacks have killed over 30 seafarers and left 20 missing, compared with around 130 attacks and 25 deaths in the Middle East since February. Ship entries through the Bosporus fell 41% in October year-on-year, prompting the EU to accelerate plans for a Black Sea maritime-security hub. Source: WSJ