Dryad Global’s latest Maritime Intelligence Brief highlights a complex and evolving global threat landscape for maritime operators, characterized by the convergence of traditional kinetic threats and sophisticated cyberattacks.
Explosive Threats in the Black Sea
The Black Sea region continues to be a high-risk area due primarily to the ongoing conflict.
- Mine Incident: On July 22, 2025, a maritime mine detonated beneath a Liberian-flagged vessel, the M/V PEGASUS SKY, near the Bystre Canal, a vital Ukrainian export route. This marks the 26th maritime mine incident in the region since the full-scale invasion began, underscoring the persistent danger from drifting or deliberately placed mines in contested waters, particularly around Ukraine’s Danube Delta.
- Heightened Maritime Friction in the Baltic Sea: Simultaneously, Russian warships conducted aggressive maneuvers in the Baltic Sea, culminating in the interception of a Finnish Border Guard vessel. While resolved without injury, the incident signals increased maritime tensions in waters adjacent to NATO member states.
Cyber Sabotage Targeting U.S. Transportation
Cybersecurity has emerged as a significant parallel threat, with ideologically driven attacks targeting critical infrastructure.
- Pro-Russian Cyberattacks: On July 26, 2025, the pro-Russian group Solntsepek, previously associated with Killnet, launched sustained Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against various U.S. transportation entities, including CSX, Amtrak, and the Port of Houston.
- Disruption of Logistics Infrastructure: This campaign is part of a broader trend of cyber operations aimed at disrupting key logistics infrastructure, often in retaliation for perceived NATO provocations.
- Need for Digital Resilience: The increasing frequency and ambition of these cyberattacks underscore the critical need for robust digital resilience across the entire maritime supply chain. Dryad Global advises operators to comprehensively assess their exposure to both physical and cyber threats, especially given elevated geopolitical tensions.
Key Regional Threat Insights
The brief also provides an overview of regional maritime incident rates:
- West Africa: Kidnap-for-ransom incidents have dramatically declined since 2021, with zero crew kidnappings reported so far in 2024. Overall maritime incident rates, including robbery and approach, remain low but sporadic.
- Indian Ocean: Despite a notable 21% drop in total incidents, there is an uptick in vessel boarding attempts, indicating persistent opportunistic threats. Armed groups continue to be active near the Yemeni and Somali coasts.
- Southeast Asia: While robbery and boarding incidents are down by over 40%, the Singapore Strait remains a hotspot requiring vigilant passage planning. Notably, no hijackings or kidnappings have been reported in this region in 2024 to date.
Global Risk Mapping – July 2025 Snapshot
Dryad Global’s analysis of global maritime threats continues to highlight:
- High and Critical Risk Zones: These include the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Guinea, Eastern Mediterranean, and Northern Venezuela.
- Elevated Threats: The Horn of Africa continues to face elevated threats, with ongoing Houthi targeting of commercial vessels.
- Cyber Threat Levels: Remain high across Europe, the U.S., the Middle East, and several Asian ports, reflecting the pervasive nature of cyber risks to maritime operations worldwide.
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Source: Dryad Global
