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Greek owners confront the need for more suitable war risk coverHowever, the escalation of tensions in the Black Sea following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent pressure on shipping routes through the Middle East Gulf, brought war risk back into focus. Yet even as premiums have risen and the threat picture has grown more complex, a fundamental question is not being asked consistently enough: does the cover an owner holds actually reflect the risks their vessel faces?That is the concern being raised by Ben McKeith, Senior Underwriter at the London P&I Club, who argues that too many shipowners and brokers remain focused on the cost of war risk cover rather than its content.%u201cUntil recently, owners have not had a good reason to consider the scope of their war cover and, therefore, it is treated as an afterthought until it is time to renew. The recent developments in the Middle East have once again put a spotlight on why continuously assessing your war risk cover needs is so important for owners and brokers%u201d, he says.The geography of risk is changingThe clearest evidence of this shift lies in the claims data. In the 12 months to April 2026, at least six war risk claims have been filed following incidents on vessels operating outside traditional high-risk zones. These are not isolated events in contested waters. They are attacks linked directly to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but occurring far from the Black Sea, in waters where owners had reason to believe that their vessels were beyond the reach of the conflict.%u201cWe have seen incidents of limpet mines being attached to vessels, which then by Ben McKeith,Senior Underwriter at the London P&I ClubMaritime risksFor much of the past decade, war risk insurance sat low on shipowners' priority lists. Premiums were manageable, conflict zones were broadly predictable, and arranging cover had become routine.278 NX