Dryad Global in its latest weekly advisory has highlighted several critical developments impacting commercial shipping and maritime operations worldwide.
Despite a reported 60% increase in marine traffic, reaching 36–37 ships daily, the Red Sea remains a high-risk corridor. The U.S.-Houthi ceasefire and the Houthis’ stated focus on Israeli-linked vessels have not alleviated overall concerns.
Furthermore, many shipping companies continue to reroute around southern Africa, driven by persistent geopolitical instability and record-high war risk insurance premiums (still at 0.75–1% of hull values). Notably, attacks by the Houthis from late 2023 through 2024, as well as ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Yemen, underscore the region’s volatility.
According to Dryad Global, the EU’s Aspides naval mission has prevented attacks since December 2024 however its limited capacity (just 2–3 escort ships) and delays of up to a week hamper broader maritime safety.
Meanwhile, Iran’s nuclear activities and GPS interference during China-Iran-Russia naval exercises in March 2025 have added to concerns about potential escalation in the region.
Dryad Global advises ship operators to consider alternative routes, adhere to BMP5 security guidance, and stay up to date with information from the IFC, UKMTO, and Operation Prosperity Guardian.
China-linked cyber espionage campaign
From July 2024 to March 2025, a China-linked cyber espionage group launched a sweeping campaign against over 70 organisations worldwide, including government, media, finance and logistics targets.
Using sophisticated techniques, like exploiting vulnerabilities in Check Point and SAP systems and deploying backdoors such as ShadowPad and GoReShell the attackers compromised supply chains and exposed critical data.
This activity, along with GPS spoofing incidents reported during military exercises in the Arabian Gulf, poses a growing risk to commercial shipping. Moreover, compromised logistics data can enable targeted theft or sabotage, while GPS disruptions may lead to collisions or vessel seizures.
Dryad Global recommends robust cybersecurity defences (e.g., phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication, endpoint monitoring) and backup navigation systems to mitigate these threats.
Spotlight incidents:
Maritime fires & explosions: The US Coast Guard responded to a fire aboard the car carrier Morning Midas off Alaska, while explosions occurred on a cargo ship off India’s Kerala coast.
Emerging maritime partnerships: Japan and Singapore have partnered on MASS trials, while the U.S. and Singapore deepen their naval cooperation through Exercise Pacific Griffin 2025.
Geopolitical tensions: Panama has removed 650 ships from its registry over sanctions, Taiwan has accused China of provocative military patrols, and ExxonMobil Guyana faces higher risk insurance following Venezuelan military activity.
Drug seizures & espionage allegations: From Zanzibar to Acapulco, authorities have seized substantial drug shipments, while luxury yacht manufacturers find themselves entangled in espionage claims.
