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.