Sanctions Are Never Simple Sanctions lists, from OFAC, the EU, the UK, or the UN, are only the starting point. For compliance teams, the real complexity begins with what isn’t written on the lists. The 50% Rule is one of the most important and challenging of these secondary rules. In maritime trade, opaque ownership chains,...
In early July, Norway sanctioned two of Russia’s largest fishing companies over mounting concerns that their vessels are being used as platforms for intelligence gathering, not just for catching fish. The move against Norebo JSC and Murman Seafood highlights a growing challenge for maritime security: the line between commercial and state-backed activity at sea is...
Deceptive shipping practices are tactics employed by bad actors to avoid detection and possible sanctions. But why are maritime stakeholders under the spotlight? The reason that regulators continuously shift increasing responsibility on due diligence towards the maritime ecosystem is because shipping plays a significant role in the global supply chain. This fact hasn’t been overlooked by regulators, as they. The recent advisory from U.S. authorities has, for the first time, detailed the responsibilities and expectations that private businesses connected to the maritime sector must adhere to.
OFAC numbered seven deceptive shipping practices that should be part of an effective compliance process. But simply knowing about them is not enough. How do you identify deceptive shipping practices with traditional matching tools? Well, you can’t. Bad actors today have become experts of their craft and the only way to keep up is with dynamic, AI-powered tools.
As trade sanctions increase, knowing which vessels you can safely do business with is of growing importance across the wider business environment. Today, it is not enough to “Know Your Customer” (KYC); you need to “Know Your Vessel” (KYV). And only strong tools are capable of identifying real-time risk factors at the vessel level.
We recently published a guide on exactly what executives need to know when it comes to deceptive shipping practices. Below are some key takeaways:
New decade, new standards – recent advisories published by U.S. and U.K authorities have raised the bar for players across the supply chain
Goodbye matching tools – Identifying deceptive shipping practices is drastically different from traditional sanctions list screening.
By analyzing vessel behaviors, organizations can proactively identify counterparties that may expose them to sanctions risk.
A sophisticated regulatory environment calls for a sophisticated solution. So what should you do? Onboard more tools and train more staff? The resulting costs and resources, without necessarily more accuracy, can outweigh the benefits. To help our partners manage at risk at scale, Windward automatically vets risk, while accounting for hundreds of risk factors in real-time.
Get the guide to learn more.
Featured posts
Risks & Compliance
The 50% Rule: Why Maritime Sanctions Compliance Isn’t Always Straightforward
Sanctions Are Never Simple Sanctions lists, from OFAC, the EU, the UK, or the UN, are only the starting point. For compliance teams, the real complexity begins with what isn’t written on the lists. The 50% Rule is one of the most important and challenging of these secondary rules. In maritime trade, opaque ownership chains,…
Fishing for Intelligence: The Hidden Role of Russian Fleets
In early July, Norway sanctioned two of Russia’s largest fishing companies over mounting concerns that their vessels are being used as platforms for intelligence gathering, not just for catching fish. The move against Norebo JSC and Murman Seafood highlights a growing challenge for maritime security: the line between commercial and state-backed activity at sea is…
Sanctioned tankers lifted 36% of all oil shipped from Russia in July, underscoring the sustained pressure Western regulators have placed on the dark fleet over most of 2025. Alongside volumes loaded on sanctioned tankers, Windward analysis of monthly tanker activity shows that 30% of Russia-origin crude and refined products were shipped on Greek-owned vessels. These…
Turkish Port Ban Could Seriously Disrupt Short-Sea Container Trades
Reports of Turkish port restrictions on ships linked to Israel, or that have previously called at Israel, could impact at least 76 container ships and seriously disrupt short-sea shuttle services between the two countries. Windward analysis reveals that 176 cargo vessels, including 76 container ships and two tankers, have called at Israel within the past…
New GPS Jamming Hotspot Seen at Third Russian Oil Export Port
Windward has detected extensive GPS jamming in a new location at the eastern Russian port of Nakhodka, leading to a 30% rise in deliberate interference to ships’ navigation signals across the region over August. Between August 5-18 the Automatic Identification Signals (AIS) of 112 ships were transmitted on land at Nadhodkta port, the first time…
Navigating the New Sanctions Reality: OFAC’s 2025 Maritime Advisory & EU’s 18th Sanctions Package
April and July 2025 brought two of the most consequential regulatory shifts in recent maritime history. First, OFAC’s latest maritime advisory redefines compliance expectations for U.S.-linked stakeholders. Then, the EU’s 18th sanctions package recalibrated oil trade flows and expanded enforcement well beyond Europe’s borders, including new restrictions on Russian-origin oil products refined in third countries….
Sanctioned tankers lifted 36% of all oil shipped from Russia in July, underscoring the sustained pressure Western regulators have placed on the dark fleet over most of 2025. Alongside volumes loaded on sanctioned tankers, Windward analysis of monthly tanker activity shows that 30% of Russia-origin crude and refined products were shipped on Greek-owned vessels. These...
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....
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...
