The Joint War Committee (JWC) has updated its high-risk listed areas to reflect the changing threat to shipping in the Indian Ocean.

A new region has been added following the insurgency in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado.

The new listed area includes waters within 50 nautical miles of Tanzania and Mozambique between Mnazi Bay in the north and Baia do Lurio in the south.

Security experts have likened the situation in the region to the political instability and lawlessness in Somalia that triggered piracy attacks on shipping more than a decade ago.

Peter Astbury, senior negotiator at security firm MAST, recently described the rising threat in the region in an interview with TradeWinds.

“Somalia started to break down when central government collapsed and moved into civil war — moved into the territory of every man, every power broker for himself,” he said.

Piracy off Somalia has dramatically reduced in recent years. In response, in its latest assessment, the JWC has reduced the high-risk region off the coast off West Africa further.

Neil Roberts, head of marine and aviation at the JWC, said the effective security action taken by shipowners and the coordinated action taken by international navy forces had made the region safer.

“The changes have been made in recognition of the much-reduced threat to shipping, there has been no long-range attack on shipping for a long time,” he said.

In a separate move, the JWC is also watching events in Ukraine closely with a view to declaring the Sea of Azov a listed area following a build-up of Russian military on the border.

Russia recently announced plans to withdraw its forces. But on Tuesday, it launched naval exercises in the Black Sea.

However, the JWC said it is ready to declare the region a listed area if the situation escalates.

“The JWC has reviewed the situation and considers the position to be poised but not yet critical,” the committee said in a note to underwriters.