Columbia Group president and chief executive Mark O’Neil said on Wednesday that the company is closely monitoring the recent escalation in the Gulf region under its established security and business continuity protocols.

In a statement shared on his personal social media platform, O’Neil said that “the safety of our crews remains our absolute priority.”

“Our vessels operate under enhanced procedures, including live monitoring through our control room, enabling real-time assessment of navigation plans and risk exposure,” he added,.

He further stated that “no operational decisions are taken without thorough evaluation and confirmation of crew safety.”

At the same time, he explained that the company has robust contingency plans in place both at sea and ashore, including for its offices in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

“These measures have been strengthened over time in response to previous geopolitical disruptions, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and earlier Houthi activity,” he said.

While acknowledging that “the current situation represents an escalation,” O’Neil noted that regional instability has long been factored into the group’s operational planning.

“We remain in close contact with relevant authorities and security advisers and will continue to take all necessary steps to protect our people and our operations,” O’Neil concluded.