Carrier Tariff Updates are Tough Managing detention and demurrage (D&D) costs is already a complex task – and fragmented, disorganized communication by major carriers makes it even harder. Tariff updates can appear suddenly, without formal announcements or clear timelines. This leads to unnecessary surprises, last-minute planning, and increased operational risk. In an industry where timing...
By Ami Daniel, Co-Founder and CEO, Windward The Shifting Sands… Geopolitical risks seemingly spring out of nowhere, with few expecting the ragtag Houthi militia to shut down major global waterways for a long period, for example. Regulatory shifts, such as OFAC’s latest advisory and the White House’s changing stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, add to...
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
Supply Chain & Logistics
Easily Keep Your D&D Strategy Aligned with Carrier Tariff Updates
Carrier Tariff Updates are Tough Managing detention and demurrage (D&D) costs is already a complex task – and fragmented, disorganized communication by major carriers makes it even harder. Tariff updates can appear suddenly, without formal announcements or clear timelines. This leads to unnecessary surprises, last-minute planning, and increased operational risk. In an industry where timing…
Building the Gen AI Future Through Strategic Partnerships
By Ami Daniel, Co-Founder and CEO, Windward The Shifting Sands… Geopolitical risks seemingly spring out of nowhere, with few expecting the ragtag Houthi militia to shut down major global waterways for a long period, for example. Regulatory shifts, such as OFAC’s latest advisory and the White House’s changing stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, add to…
How Will Trump’s Changing Tariffs Be Monitored & Enforced?
The Trump administration continues to quickly change and adapt its tariff program, with significant changes announced this month to its tariff policies targeting Chinese vessels docking at U.S. ports. This marks another escalation in ongoing trade tensions, specifically designed to help the U.S.: Let’s take a quick look at what has changed, what it means…
The European Union has taken a major step in its ongoing campaign against the shadow fleet – a sprawling network of aging, uninsured, and often sanctioned vessels quietly operating in European waters. The European Commission amended the Vessel Monitoring Directive to require all vessels passing through EU waters – even those not calling at an…
The Need to Know Your Vessel (KYV™) is Highlighted in OFAC’s 2025 Advisory
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a new maritime sanctions advisory on April 16, 2025, that signals a pivotal shift in compliance expectations. The update doesn’t just revisit the deceptive shipping practices (DSPs) introduced in 2020, it expands the scope of what regulators consider red-flag behavior, particularly in connection with Iranian…
Explaining the Surge in Cargo-Vessel Port Calls to Syria
A significant anomaly in maritime activity was detected in Syrian waters last week (April 14-21, 2025), with 28 unique cargo vessels making port calls. This represents a 56% increase above the expected value of 18 vessels and exceeds the normal range of activity for the area. This spike follows a period of gradually increasing maritime…
Building the Gen AI Future Through Strategic Partnerships
By Ami Daniel, Co-Founder and CEO, Windward The Shifting Sands… Geopolitical risks seemingly spring out of nowhere, with few expecting the ragtag Houthi militia to shut down major global waterways for a long period, for example. Regulatory shifts, such as OFAC’s latest advisory and the White House’s changing stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, add to...
The Journey to Success: Celebrating Windward’s 200th Customer Milestone
Windward is proud to announce a significant milestone in our journey: reaching 200 customers. The success we have achieved for and with our ocean freight, trading and shipping, and government customers stems from our ability to provide innovative technology and services that produce AI-powered, actionable insights. Customers choose Windward and then stay with us for...
Webinar: Russia’s Invasion Impact on Maritime Deception and Ecosystem
Windward’s webinar brought together a diverse group of experts to cut through the noise around the impact of Russia’s war on the diverse maritime ecosystem. Exclusive data from Windward’s Maritime AI™ platform, along with insights from the industry-expert guests, enabled the sharing of unique perspectives. The webinar was filled with actionable tactics and ideas that...
Navigating deception: the impact of Russia’s invasion on the maritime ecosystem
Windward’s webinar brought together a diverse group of experts to cut through the noise around the impact of Russia’s war on the diverse maritime ecosystem. Exclusive data from Windward’s Maritime AI™ platform, along with insights from the industry-expert guests, enabled the sharing of unique perspectives. The webinar was filled with actionable tactics and ideas that...
