Dryad Global’s latest Maritime Intelligence Brief, as of July 22, 2025, highlights a dynamic and complex threat landscape across key global shipping routes, driven by geopolitical tensions and regional instabilities. The report offers critical insights into evolving risks in the Red Sea, West Africa, and the Indian Ocean, alongside a new development concerning foreign vessels entering Russian ports.
Russia’s Port Access Restrictions Amid Sanctions
In a significant development, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) now requires security approval for all foreign vessels entering Russian ports. This new measure, effective immediately after a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin on July 21, 2025, is seen as a direct response to intensified Western sanctions targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet.”
This comes on the heels of major sanction packages:
- The UK sanctioned 135 shadow fleet tankers on July 21, 2025, as part of a broader effort against a 1,400-vessel network.
- The EU’s 18th sanctions package, announced on July 18, 2025, specifically targeted entities supporting Russia’s shadow fleet, such as the UAE-based Intershipping Services, and notably lowered the oil price cap from $60 to $47.6 per barrel.
The FSB’s approval requirement is anticipated to disrupt commercial shipping by introducing new delays and costs for foreign vessels seeking to access Russian ports.
West Africa: Stability Amid Persistent Threat
The maritime security situation off West Africa has shown signs of stability, with no maritime security incidents reported this week. Historical data indicates a notable and welcome decline in kidnapping events, dropping to zero in 2023 from a peak in 2020.
Despite this positive trend in kidnappings, robbery and approach attempts remain persistent, particularly near anchorages in Nigeria and Cameroon. Dryad Global continues to classify the region as a moderate risk zone for maritime operations, advising continuous crew vigilance and the implementation of layered security measures.
Indian Ocean: Mixed Signals and Evolving Threats
The Indian Ocean presents a mixed picture of maritime security. While there has been a decrease in boarding incidents (-21%) over the past year, there’s 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 remains a significant concern, especially in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters. Vessels transiting the high-risk area (HRA) are strongly advised to adhere to industry-recommended transit corridors and strictly follow BMP5 (Best Management Practices for Protection against Somalia Based Piracy) guidelines.
Southeast Asia: Persistent Boarding and Robbery
Southeast Asia continues to record high levels of boarding incidents, though there has been a 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 in nature, they still pose a risk to crew safety and can lead to operational delays for vessels.
Regional Risk Trends at a Glance
- West Africa: Robbery remains the dominant threat, while kidnapping has dropped significantly.
- Indian Ocean: Increased attacks and hijackings highlight the region’s volatility.
- Southeast Asia: Boarding remains the most common threat, although its frequency is declining.
Global Impact Map – Risk & Intelligence Ratings
Dryad Global’s risk assessment identifies various threat levels across the globe:
- 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.
For maritime operators, Dryad’s Secure Voyager Hub serves as a vital platform, offering up-to-date threat assessments, real-time alerts, and intelligence-driven voyage planning tools to facilitate smarter and faster decision-making in high-risk operating environments.
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Source: Dryad Global
