This week’s picture is defined by a sharp security escalation in the Caribbean, with direct knock-ons for commercial shipping and cruise itineraries.
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is transiting to the region alongside a broader U.S. force build-up (ships, aircraft, Tomahawk loadouts), while USS Gravely called Port-of-Spain amid rising diplomatic friction with Venezuela. Our assessment outlines the likelihood of temporary maritime exclusion zones and the operational impact window into mid-November.
At-a-glance highlights
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Caribbean & LATAM: We track the sequencing of U.S. deployments, the re-activation of Roosevelt Roads (PR) as a staging node, and what that means for cargo delay risk (24–48 hrs), insurance premia (+10–20%), and cruise itinerary adjustments. Timing, locations and most-exposed routes are covered in the full brief.
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Counter-narco & interdictions: Multiple high-value seizures and boardings (e.g., 6,500 kg off Canary Islands; cocaine concealed in bananas at Piraeus) continue to shape enforcement tempo and port inspection posture.
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Europe & the Med: Ongoing NATO/Royal Navy tracking of Russian activity in UK waters; continued migrant SAR south of Gavdos; and updates on EU/Black Sea/Central Asia security & connectivity cooperation—implications for choke points and scheduling are detailed in our routes section.
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Asia–Pacific: U.S. and regional partners conduct joint exercises in the Philippine Sea; Philippine Army stands up a missile battalion for territorial defense; and a collision off Guangzhou underscores coastal traffic-separation risk.
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Cyber risk (maritime): We spotlight ransomware trends (Qilin surge, ~700 attacks YTD), data-sprawl exposures, and role-based training priorities for shoreside and afloat teams—plus a simple triage for OT/IT incidents.
What’s inside the full analysis (for subscribers)
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Scenario timeline for the Caribbean operation and route-by-route risk (container, tanker, cruise).
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Port intelligence notes: inspection intensity, customs trends and practical mitigations (crew briefing points, comms checks).
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90-day incident trends (West Africa, Indian Ocean, SE Asia) and our risk rating map to support voyage planning and insurance conversations.
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Cyber playbook: quick-win controls and training sequences aligned to current threat activity.
To access the complete Maritime Intelligence Brief and route-specific guidance, subscribe to our weekly analysis or speak with our team.
Read the full analysis → (subscriber access) | sales@dryadglobal.com
Updated 27 October 2025
