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
IRAN WAR
Two Weeks Into the Ceasefire: A Maritime Intelligence Breakdown
At a Glance The Second Week of the Ceasefire at Sea Two weeks after the ceasefire announcement, the maritime system has moved further away from normalization. The first week of the ceasefire established that Hormuz had not reopened to normal commercial traffic. Movement continued, but under overlapping Iranian control and U.S. enforcement. During the second…
April 23, 2026: Iran War Maritime Intelligence Daily
At a Glance Operational Overview Maritime dynamics across the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding corridors continue to shift from constrained activity toward selective escalation, with enforcement, evasion, and direct engagement shaping vessel behavior. Iranian crude exports from Kharg Island declined sharply during the week of April 13–19, with total volumes estimated at approximately 3 million…
Iran War Exposes AIS Gaps and the Need for Multi-Source Intelligence
At a Glance The Iran War Exposed a Visibility Gap Operation Epic Fury did not stop maritime activity. It changed how that activity is conducted and how visible it is. From the outset, the electronic environment degraded at scale. More than 1,100 vessels were affected by GPS and AIS interference within the first 24 hours,…
At a Glance From Open Sea to Controlled Passage For decades, global shipping has operated on a foundational assumption: freedom of navigation. The Iran war is challenging that assumption in real time. The Strait of Hormuz is no longer just congested or high-risk. It is controlled. Transit is selective, access is conditional, and movement depends…
Iran War Confirmed Vessel Attacks and Maritime Infrastructure Strikes
Number of confirmed incidents: 71 (34 vessels and 37 oil, gas, and port facilities). At a Glance Attack Patterns Across Commercial Shipping Since the start of the Iran war, maritime security incidents have expanded across the commercial operating environment, affecting vessels at anchor, in transit, in drydock, and during ship-to-ship operations. The pattern is no…
April 20, 2026: Iran War Maritime Intelligence Daily
At a Glance Operational Overview Maritime dynamics around the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate, with enforcement, evasion, and geographic expansion reshaping the operational picture. Following the sharp deterioration on April 18, the Strait remains highly unstable. Vessel behavior continues to reflect elevated risk, with reversals, rerouting, and cautious staging dominating traffic patterns. At the…
Ground Truth: Windward’s 2026 Commitment to Verified Maritime Intelligence
By Ariel Zibziner, VP Business Services, Windward Data Integrity in an Era of High-Frequency Signal Manipulation As we conclude 2025, the maritime domain is characterized by a trust deficit in digital signaling. The convergence of major global conflicts — continued hostilities in Ukraine, Houthi attacks disrupting Red Sea transit, suspected infrastructure sabotage in the Baltic,...
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....