Underwater Threats are Rising – Windward’s New AI Solution Offers Protection

High-profile attacks on critical maritime infrastructure suddenly seem to be occurring one after the other. These acts of undersea sabotage are a new type of “gray warfare.” They can do tremendous damage, but are often opaque and offer plausible deniability for the perpetrators. 

Recent examples of cables damaged by anchors in the Baltic Sea and near Taiwan, as well as the explosion that severely damaged the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in 2022, highlight the need for increased monitoring of critical infrastructure at sea. 

To help you detect and counter the threats, Windward has launched a first-of-its-kind Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection solution. 

There’s A LOT at Stake… 

Protecting critical maritime infrastructure is vital for both governmental and commercial organizations, due to the cables’ essential role in global connectivity and economic stability. Submarine cables are responsible for carrying approximately 95% of all international data, enabling global communications, financial transactions, and operational logistics across industries. 

Additionally, energy pipelines, underwater power grids, and offshore rigs that form part of the maritime infrastructure are critical for maintaining energy security and stability, making their protection a top priority for governments and businesses alike.

Illicit actors are highly motivated to strike, in part because most critical maritime cables and pipes are vulnerable – private and government stakeholders don’t yet know how to effectively protect undersea infrastructure. 

…And Huge Challenges 

The sheer expanse of the undersea cable network makes monitoring and protection a monumental task. With more than 500 cables spanning approximately 1.4 million kilometers across deep and often inaccessible oceanic regions, comprehensive surveillance is impractical and ineffective using conventional methods. Without an AI-powered solution, organizations will drown in data and lack the ability to respond in real time.  

Additionally, undersea cables are extremely thin and are typically left unshielded on the ocean floor. This makes them highly susceptible to both unintentional damage and deliberate attacks. Everyday maritime activities – such as fishing, trawling, and anchoring – pose substantial risks. Additionally, natural phenomena such as earthquakes and submarine landslides can cause extensive disruptions. Organizations require the ability to differentiate between accidents and coordinated attacks. 

Unlike terrestrial infrastructure, undersea cables are largely unprotected by active defense systems. Historically, their security has depended on people not knowing where they are located. 

But as maritime technology advances and geopolitical tensions escalate, reliance on remoteness is no longer sufficient – and some cables lay beneath popular vessel routes. The increasing accessibility of seabed mapping technologies has made it easier for illicit actors to locate and potentially target critical cable systems.

A Unique Solution for 3 Primary Threats 

Windward’s newly-launched Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection solution is a unique, AI-powered solution designed to protect the world’s essential maritime infrastructure – including cables, pipelines, and rigs – against growing threats. 

The solution combines the Windward-mapped proprietary cable layer and integrated user data with our best-in-class AI-based behavioral pattern detection to empower organizations ranging from government and intelligence agencies, to communications and energy companies. 

It empowers organizations to identify, monitor, and mitigate risks before they cause disruption, as well as investigate after the fact and provide evidence to insurers and law enforcement agencies. 

Windward’s Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection solution addresses three primary threats to maritime infrastructure: 

• Deep-sea research operations
• Shallow-water sabotage
• Attacks on offshore oil rigs and platforms 

The AI-powered solution monitors high-risk vessels to flag suspicious activities, whether a rogue state research vessel in the deep sea, a shadow fleet vessel in shallow waters, or a ship in close proximity to oil rigs. 

The platform accesses historical data, behavioral patterns, and predictive analytics with real-time monitoring alerts, powered by the integrated Dataminr feed, to enable users to proactively assess and mitigate threats. 

MAI Expert™, Windward’s virtual subject matter expert, provides comprehensive risk analysis and context. 
Learn more.

Find Out More