The Gray Zone at Sea: How Adversaries Disrupt Without Firing a Shot
At a Glance What Is the Maritime Gray Zone? The maritime gray zone describes state or state-aligned actions that fall between routine presence and open conflict. These operations are intentionally deniable, often unattributable, and designed to achieve strategic gains without crossing the threshold of armed escalation. Gray-zone maritime activity includes behaviors that look routine on…
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The Integrity Gap: Why Know Your Data (KYD™) is the New Frontier of Maritime Intelligence
At a Glance The Foundation of Truth: Elevating Maritime Intelligence Above the Noise In the global maritime ecosystem, data is the new oil, but “dirty oil” is currently clogging the engines of compliance and national security. For years, the industry has focused on Know Your Customer (KYC) and Windward’s trademarked Know Your Vessel (KYV™). While…
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Tanker Evading Venezuela Blockade Paints Russian Flag as U.S. Pursuit Continues
According to New York Times reporting, the runaway tanker Bella 1 is claiming Russian protection after painting a Russian flag on its hull and being formally renamed and entered into an official Russian vessel registry — moves that could complicate U.S. efforts to board the ship. The runaway tanker Bella 1 is claiming Russian protection…
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Maritime Defense Weekly: Trade Friction, Maritime Pressure Points
The Week in Focus Black Sea: Shadow Fleet Seeks Coastal Cover Following Ukrainian maritime drone strikes in late November and December, Russia’s shadow fleet has begun altering its operating patterns in the Black Sea. Instead of transiting directly across open water, tankers are increasingly hugging the coastlines of Georgia and Türkiye, in some cases operating…
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