As if shipowners did not have enough to worry about in these tense times, research has shown the Middle East Gulf is highly vulnerable to "monster waves".
Scientists from Brunel University London have discovered that the region previously thought to be tranquil is actually a hotspot for tsunamis.
Extreme weather
Brunel started studying the phenomenon after a calm, cloudy March day in 2017 saw powerful three-metre waves thrash the coast of Iran, killing five, injuring 20 and causing untold damage.
