In March 2026, International Registries, Inc. and its affiliates (IRI) hosted the first Informal Ship Security Forum (ISSF) North America meeting. ISSF gathers senior security and shipping industry professionals from across the commercial, energy, and cruise sectors for a day of candid, Chatham House Rule-based dialogue. Driven by the urgency of current geopolitical developments, the meeting formalized a structure for shared dialogue in North America. Fourteen organizations participated in a frank, high-level exchange of information that bridged the gap between commercial operators and the intelligence community.
“Merchant vessels currently face an unprecedented convergence of threats including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacks in the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, persistent instability in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, rising tensions in the Black Sea, and evolving security challenges across the Caribbean Basin,” said IRI Vice President, Maritime Security, Evan Curt. “Industry leaders felt the urgency of the current environment underscored the value of having a trusted, pre-established forum ready to convene,” he continued.
Discussions at the North American inaugural session ranged from the mechanics of Iran’s “smart control” strategy in the Strait of Hormuz to counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology, crew welfare for seafarers stranded in the Arabian Gulf, and the secondary security effects rippling through the Caribbean. The ISSF was founded in Dubai more than a decade ago as an informal gathering of Company Security Officers and maritime security professionals.
The ISSF built its reputation on open and frank conversation without the constraints of official attribution and diplomatic protocol. The forum subsequently expanded to London, where its semiannual meetings have become a fixture on the European maritime security calendar. The London forum last met in spring 2026.
IRI, which provides administrative and technical support to the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry, actively engages in dialogue and information sharing to support safe vessel operation and seafarer welfare.
“Bringing stakeholders together to share intelligence, align on best practices, and speak frankly about the risks in an open setting fosters collaboration and solution building opportunities,” said Evan. “We’re facing the most serious maritime security crisis in recent memory. The more collaboration, dialogue, and frank information sharing we have across the industry, the safer our vessels, cargoes, seafarers, and seas will be,” he concluded.
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