West of England P&I Club

West of England P&I Club is a UK-based Protection & Indemnity mutual insurer covering shipowner liability. In July 2026 it issued a member alert instructing shipowners and insurers to re-screen Cuban counterparties against both the SDN and Cuba Restricted Lists, warning that secondary sanctions risk extends to any entity 50% or more owned by GAESA, MININT or MINFAR, and that further designations were expected "particularly in transport and logistics sectors".

That forecast was borne out three days later when GEMAR, Cuba's state maritime and port transport conglomerate, became the first maritime-sector-specific entity designated under Executive Order 14404 on 13 July 2026.

The Club states it will deny coverage for transactions that risk breaching sanctions and requires members to seek legal guidance before any Cuban operation, an institutional, pre-emptive posture distinct from the diaspora-press and think-tank commentary that has otherwise dominated coverage of the sanctions campaign.