Dryad Global: Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has surged by 30%

Dryad Global’s latest Maritime Security Threat Advisory highlights critical developments, from piracy activity in the Gulf of Guinea to innovative drone-based security threats.

Gulf of Guinea: Piracy on the rise

According to Dryad Global, piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea have surged by 30% in 2025, underlining the region’s persistent security challenges. On May 30th, the cargo vessel ORANGE FROST was boarded by armed attackers near São Tomé and Príncipe. The crew’s citadel response mitigated casualties, but one engineer is missing and presumed kidnapped. This incident follows a similar April boarding of the SEA PANTHER off Nigeria, suggesting a troubling trend of pirate activity and targeted equipment theft in the region.

Mariners are urged to adopt heightened security measures and remain vigilant as the region’s Pirate Action Groups (PAGs) become increasingly sophisticated.

RelatedNews

Validity of shadow vessels’ insurance documents remains uncertain

Philippines DMW issues call to protect seafarers from warlike areas

Containerized drone attacks: A global concern

In a significant escalation of maritime threats, Ukraine’s Security Service recently used modified shipping containers to launch 117 FPV drones in an attack on four Russian airbases. These drones, housed in containers with remotely operated roofs, bypassed traditional security measures, causing severe damage to aircraft and infrastructure.

The implications for global maritime security are profound. Standard shipping containers, ubiquitous across international trade, could now be repurposed as covert drone launch platforms — threatening ports, naval assets, and coastal facilities.

Recommendations for ports and operators

To address these evolving threats, Dryad Global recommends:

Enhanced screening: Implement advanced X-ray and AI-driven anomaly detection to identify concealed drones within containers.
Improved monitoring: Bolster AIS and satellite surveillance to track potential threats in real time.
Counter-drone defenses: Deploy radar and RF jamming systems to detect and neutralize drone-based threats.

Regional and international developments

Additional updates from the maritime domain this week include:

A significant container disruption in Singapore and broader Asian ports.
The EU considering a Black Sea Maritime Security Hub to counter Russian naval activity.
Rising concerns around “dark fleet” ships re-entering mainstream shipping amid persistent sanctions pressures.