Dryad Global’s latest Maritime Intelligence Brief confirms that the global maritime landscape remains highly volatile, driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions and regional instabilities. The report offers a crucial “snapshot of threat levels, key developments, and regional incident trends across critical shipping routes.” This week’s update, in particular, emphasizes a complex and evolving threat picture in regions like the Red Sea, West Africa, and the Indian Ocean.
Red Sea: Escalation with New Tactics
On July 4, 2025, the Liberian-flagged container carrier MT EETEVIVYC was struck by Houthi forces while transiting southbound through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This incident is particularly notable as it marks the first confirmed Houthi unmanned surface vessel (USV) strike since their maritime campaign began. This reflects a significant shift in Houthi tactics, indicating their deployment of increasingly sophisticated means, including missiles, USVs, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to disrupt Red Sea shipping.
The vessel sustained hull damage but remained operational and successfully diverted to Djibouti. This attack underscores a pattern of escalating aggression despite ongoing Western-led coalition patrols. Commercial vessels transiting the area are strongly advised to maintain heightened alertness due to the unpredictable and evolving nature of these threats.
West Africa: Stability Amid Persistent Threat
The past week saw no maritime security incidents reported off West Africa, a positive sign for the region. Historical data reveals a significant reduction in kidnapping events, with incidents down to zero in 2023 from a peak in 2020. However, the threat of robbery and approach attempts remains persistent, particularly near anchorages in Nigeria and Cameroon. Despite the decline in major incidents, Dryad continues to classify the region as a moderate risk zone for maritime operations, recommending continued crew vigilance and the implementation of layered security measures.
Indian Ocean: Mixed Signals
The Indian Ocean presents a mixed picture regarding maritime security. Data indicates a decrease in boarding incidents (-21%) over the past year, which is a welcome development. However, this is overshadowed by an alarming increase in attacks (+200%) and hijackings (+100%) during the same period. The use of drones and small craft in piracy and smuggling operations continues to be a concern, particularly in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters. Vessels transiting the High-Risk Area (HRA) are advised to remain within industry-recommended transit corridors and adhere strictly to BMP5 (Best Management Practices for Protection against Somalia Based Piracy) guidelines.
Southeast Asia: Boarding & Robbery Persist
Southeast Asia continues to record a high number of boarding incidents, though there has been a positive 48.4% decrease in robbery incidents from 2022 to 2024. Key hotspots for these incidents include the Singapore Strait and various Indonesian anchorages. While these incidents are often opportunistic, they still pose a considerable risk to crew safety and can lead to operational delays.
Regional Risk Trends at a Glance
- West Africa: Robbery remains the dominant threat, while kidnapping has seen a significant decline.
- Indian Ocean: Increased attacks and hijackings highlight the volatility and evolving nature of threats in this region.
- Southeast Asia: Boarding remains the most common threat, although its frequency is declining.
Global Impact Map – Risk & Intelligence Ratings
Dryad’s global risk assessment identifies several critical, severe, and moderate-to-elevated risk zones for maritime operations:
- Critical Risk Zones: Yemen, Southern Red Sea, parts of Somalia, and Sudan.
- Severe Risk Areas: Syria, Iraq, Nigeria’s Niger Delta, and the Gulf of Guinea.
- Moderate-to-Elevated Threats: Persist in the Caribbean (Haiti), North Africa, and some parts of Southeast Asia.
Dryad’s Secure Voyager Hub serves as a comprehensive platform for up-to-date threat assessments, real-time alerts, and intelligence-driven voyage planning tools, enabling shipowners to make informed decisions in a dynamic global maritime security landscape.
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Source: Dryad Global
