Two Critical Factors for Security Teams Protecting Global Fleets

The Houthis have significantly escalated their activities in the Red Sea, a vital maritime corridor, since November 2023. Over 70 attacks have been reported, and have led to the sinking of two vessels and the seizure of another, with devastating consequences, including the deaths of at least three seafarers. 

The attacks have heightened security concerns for vessels transiting through this strategic waterway, as well as disrupting international shipping routes and raising insurance premiums. 

Maritime threats such as these are multiplying, and global enterprises are facing unprecedented risks, making it critical for security teams to stay vigilant and consider two critical factors for trading and shipping organizations. Check out our previous blog post in this series to see the first two important factors. 

The Dual Responsibilities of Asset and Facility Security Teams

In major enterprises, security operations are often divided into two specialized sectors: asset security and facility security, each serving distinct purposes. Asset security teams prioritize overseeing vessel activity and safeguarding the cargo and assets on board, while facility security teams address wider security responsibilities, such as safeguarding offshore sites and ensuring uninterrupted operations.

1. Trend Analysis is More Than a Passing Trend

In volatile maritime regions, such as the Red Sea, understanding trends and behavioral shifts is crucial for security teams. Trend analysis helps security teams proactively anticipate potential risks and adapt to changes by providing insights into:

• Vessel traffic over time: tracking fluctuations in the number of vessels transiting through hot zones like the Red Sea
• Class, flag, and ownership: identifying shifts based on vessel class, flag state, or ownership affiliations to see if specific types of vessels are becoming more active in dangerous areas
• Regional presence: determining whether fleets from specific nations, such as China or Russia, are still operating in these zones
• Competitor movements: monitoring competitor behavior to see if they have resumed operations in high-risk regions, providing valuable insight into industry trends and risk tolerance

By leveraging trend analysis, security teams gain the foresight they need to navigate an increasingly volatile maritime environment, ensuring they stay proactive in managing risks.

2. Area Monitoring – an Important Area for Your Org. 

Monitoring high-risk areas, such as the Red Sea, and strategic maritime corridors, such as Bab el Mandeb, is critical for the safety of vessels, crew, and cargo. With real-time area monitoring, security teams can track the movement of vessels approaching dangerous zones and determine whether to reroute them to avoid potential threats. 

By setting up alerts for fleet movements in sensitive regions, teams can be proactive, ensuring timely intervention. Area monitoring goes beyond fleet management and extends to corporate security, allowing organizations to keep a close watch on key facilities and detect any foreign vessels engaged in suspicious activities nearby. Alerts for these sensitive areas provide an additional layer of protection, helping teams respond swiftly to potential risks.

Key questions security teams often ask include:

• Are my vessels approaching a high-risk area and should I stop them?
• Who is approaching my facilities?
• Are there any foreign vessels engaged in suspicious activities around my facility?

Mitigate Threats, Maximize Security with Windward

To bolster global fleet protection, security teams need effective tools to stay ahead of shifting threats. Windward’s innovative solutions give these teams the power to assume control, providing a variety of capabilities that support comprehensive screening and detailed investigations.

• Organization Defined Risk (ODR): Windward’s solution empowers organizations to define their own unique risk criteria, going beyond regulatory vessel activities to incorporate complex behaviors and scenarios relevant to their specific operating environment. Our advanced AI models continuously monitor these customized risk profiles, generating real-time alerts whenever a vessel’s activity matches the defined parameters.

• Comprehensive vessel profiles: access in-depth vessel data, including ownership, behavior, history, flags, and past incidents or violations. Paired with Gen-AI automated risk assessments, these profiles streamline both the screening and investigation processes, saving time and resources.
• Detect and investigate deceptive shipping practices: security teams can easily analyze AIS gaps, potential spoofing attempts, or other deceptive practices that may indicate illicit activity. This is essential for screening and deeper investigations, ensuring that potential threats are swiftly identified and addressed.

Polygon-based monitoring for enhanced security: organizations can establish virtual perimeters and trigger customized alerts in real time by defining an unlimited amount of polygonal zones around key assets. This allows security teams to closely monitor vessel activities in predefined areas, ensuring constant awareness of potential risks.

• Visualized vessel activity: security teams can track vessels of interest on a detailed, interactive map, providing historical insights that reveal patterns and potential anomalies. This visibility supports both high-level oversight and focused investigations.
• Uncover hidden networks with link analysis: Windward’s link analysis feature identifies potential relationships between vessels, companies, and individuals, uncovering hidden networks and affiliations that may go undetected. This tool helps security teams navigate complex affiliations, offering deeper insight into potential risks.

Securing Tomorrow’s Maritime Operations Today

Large enterprises rely on security teams to safeguard crucial assets, reduce risks, and ensure seamless operations in unpredictable conditions. 

With cutting-edge technology like Windward’s AI-driven platform, companies can proactively address escalating threats and confidently manage global maritime challenges. Real-time surveillance, trend analysis, and data-driven insights equip security teams to respond quickly and effectively, securing both vessels and cargo in high-risk regions.

Strengthen Your Fleet’s Security