At a Glance Why 2025 Broke the Old Sanctions Playbook Maritime compliance in 2025 evolved so quickly that by the time teams adapted, the landscape had already changed again. Every quarter introduced a new layer of complexity: expanded lists, novel evasion tactics, jurisdictional gaps. For trading firms, risk teams, and anyone involved in maritime due...
At a Glance What Three Quarters of GPS Jamming Reveal About Maritime Risk In 2025, GPS jamming became maritime’s fastest-growing and most disruptive operational challenges. What began as concentrated interference in a few high risk zones quickly escalated into a global-scale disruption with thousands of vessels broadcasting false locations and incidents reported in every major...
From Brexit, to refugees, to spillovers from the Syrian and Libyan civil wars – there’s plenty to keep Europeans up at night. And these are just the things we can see. What about the stuff we can’t?
The second edition of our European Threat Map reveals some of the anomalies found when applying AI-driven, behavioral analysis to vessels, enabling organizations – such as Frontex and Italy’s Guardia di Finanza – to anticipate threats, and stay ahead of their adversaries.
Amid the drug smuggling, human trafficking and sanctions evasion detected, there are a number of key findings, including:
The Black Sea is significantly riskier than the Mediterranean; there are about three times as many “risky” vessels visiting the Black Sea vs the Med.
Despite EU sanctions on Syria and Crimea, commercial shipping activities continue to take place in the waters around these territories, indicating probable sanction evasions.
In Europe, Guernsey and Romania have the highest proportion of incorporated companies whose vessels display “risky” behavioral patterns.
Over the previous year, 42 vessels displayed patterns of behavior similar to ships caught with drugs on board.
Stay tuned for threat maps for other parts of the world. For now, stay safe!
Download a PDF of the map
Featured posts
Risks & Compliance
Sanctions Enforcement is Evolving – Are You?
At a Glance Why 2025 Broke the Old Sanctions Playbook Maritime compliance in 2025 evolved so quickly that by the time teams adapted, the landscape had already changed again. Every quarter introduced a new layer of complexity: expanded lists, novel evasion tactics, jurisdictional gaps. For trading firms, risk teams, and anyone involved in maritime due…
At a Glance What Three Quarters of GPS Jamming Reveal About Maritime Risk In 2025, GPS jamming became maritime’s fastest-growing and most disruptive operational challenges. What began as concentrated interference in a few high risk zones quickly escalated into a global-scale disruption with thousands of vessels broadcasting false locations and incidents reported in every major…
A Russia-bound LPG tanker sailing for the Baltic port of Ust-Luga spoofed its location for 10 days in the Gulf of Finland, concealing the loading of its cargo of propane or butane. The 22-year-old vessel was sold to a newly incorporated single-ship company in India in late September and immediately sailed for the Baltic Sea…
Iran-Flagged Tankers Briefly End, Then Resume, AIS Dark Activity
Many Iran-flagged tankers simultaneously ended a sustained period of dark activity for three days, starting October 12, only for most of the fleet to resume the deceptive shipping practice 48 hours later. Of the 88 tankers flying the Iranian flag (most belonging to the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), 52 were transmitting AIS signals between…
Generative AI Will Reshape Shipping Within 18 Months
At the 17th Annual Capital Link Shipping & Marine Services Forum, held during London International Shipping Week, Windward’s Co-Founder and CEO, Ami Daniel, issued a striking forecast: “In the next 12 to 18 months, you’ll see generative AI change how people analyze and make decisions. In my view, everybody will be a PhD-level analyst with…
Tariffs at Sea: What Freight Forwarders Need to Know
For ocean freight forwarders, tariffs are not abstract policy tools. Every new duty or exemption can disrupt sailing schedules, alter customer demand, and reshape contract economics. In recent months, tariff changes have even led shippers to cancel or postpone shipments, demand contract renegotiations, and rethink their long-term relationships with logistics partners. With margins already razor-thin,…
Windward Launches WhatsApp Integration for Instant Risk Insights
At a Glance Redefining Vessel Screening for a Real-Time World In global trade and shipping, decisions are rarely made from behind a desk. A call from port control, a sudden request from a counterpart, or a time-sensitive deal can trigger the need for immediate screening. Whether it’s a compliance check to prevent sanctions breaches or...
Navigate 2025’s Maritime Risk Landscape with Maritime AI™ at London International Shipping Week
As the global shipping community gathers for London International Shipping Week (LISW) 2025, one reality stands out: disruption is the operating environment, not the exception. The maritime ecosystem is under sustained pressure, and adapting to this high risk era is now a prerequisite for business continuity. From sanctions and signal interference to fraudulent documents and...
AI-Automated Document Validation: Streamlining Trade Against Real Maritime Activity
Global trade still runs on paper. Bills of Lading, certificates of origin, price attestations, and other documents remain the backbone of maritime trade, yet also its most persistent Achilles’ heel. Forged paperwork fuels fraud, delays compliance, and stalls cargo worth millions. Windward’s new AI-Automated Document Validation changes that, by cross-checking every document against what actually...
From Risk Platform to Collaborative Ecosystem: Reducing Friction in Chartering
By Ami Daniel, Co-Founder & CEO, Windward When we founded Windward.ai in 2010, we were a small startup of engineers and maritime experts using AI to bring order to chaotic oceans. Today, with nearly 300 customers — including governments, shipowners, energy firms, insurers, and traders — our Maritime AI™ platform influences billions in daily trade....
From AI Products to an AI Company: Windward’s Internal Gen AI Journey
By Ami Daniel, Co-Founder & CEO, Windward At Windward, we’ve always believed in staying ahead of the curve. But with Gen AI, the curve isn’t just shifting—it’s exploding. This isn’t just another tech wave. It’s a fundamental rewiring of how we operate, build, and scale. So we made a clear decision: AI isn’t a feature....
