In the second quarter of 2026, Windward identified 3,137 incidents of extended 'dark activity' affecting 2,157 distinct cargo ships and tankers exceeding 10,000 DWT. Concurrently, 171,286 individual vessels encountered GPS jamming at least once during the same period. These statistics do not represent a list of specific vessels but rather describe the conditions within particular maritime areas, highlighting a critical operational problem in maintaining comprehensive maritime awareness.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, these trends indicate increased risks to shipment visibility and potential delays. Prolonged dark activity, where vessels intentionally turn off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, can complicate tracking, raise security concerns, and potentially lead to higher insurance premiums for certain routes. GPS jamming further exacerbates this by disrupting navigation and communication systems, making it harder to monitor vessel positions accurately and ensure timely deliveries. This lack of real-time data can hinder proactive decision-making regarding routing and contingency planning.
Forwarders should consider enhanced due diligence on carrier routes and vessel histories, particularly for high-risk areas. The potential for disrupted schedules and increased operational costs due to rerouting or extended transit times could impact supply chain reliability. Implementing advanced tracking solutions that combine multiple data sources beyond AIS might become essential to mitigate these growing visibility challenges.