Navigating Maritime Security Risks: Lessons from Defence

In today's volatile geopolitical landscape, the threat environment surrounding maritime infrastructure is increasingly complex. We explore the challenges and strategies into the risks posed by vulnerabilities in critical national infrastructure through the lens of Mike Rountree and Lasse Krabbesmark who have 40 years of military experience between them – serving in the US Marine Corps and the Royal Danish Navy respectively. Mike now leads the Business Development team in the US while Lasse is the Product Manager for Systematic’s Maritime Security product.

Lasse Krabbesmark & Mike Rountree

The Global Maritime Security Environment

The global commons is experiencing unprecedented geopolitical uncertainty. This is particularly pronounced in maritime regions, where both state and non-state actors, contest critical terrain including straits, canals, and major shipping ports.

The rise of these actors poses significant risks to global trade and the movement of goods, exacerbated by overstretched naval forces that are pulled from national waters to address these threats. A prime example is the ongoing struggle to ensure safe passage through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial link between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Additionally, incidents like the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines highlight the vulnerability of maritime infrastructure, underscoring the vital role that these assets play in supporting modern economies and maintaining political stability. As maritime infrastructure becomes a target for malign actors, the importance of protecting these critical assets cannot be overstated.

This risk requires a shift in how we approach the security of maritime infrastructure. Commercial industries must adopt a more proactive, operational risk management mindset, incorporating lessons learned from the military to safeguard assets that underpin national economies.

Operational Risk Management

From an operational standpoint, commercial industries must rethink how they protect maritime infrastructure. Adopting an Operational Risk Management (ORM) approach, which is deeply ingrained in military planning, is essential.

ORM assesses the criticality of infrastructure and weighs the costs of disruption—from operational downtimes and repair costs to political ramifications.

For example, leveraging a more sophisticated operational Common Operating Picture (COP) that goes beyond efficient equipment operation to include real-time situational awareness (SA) across multiple domains is key to making informed decisions. This enables operators to respond swiftly to potential threats and mitigate risks proactively.

Moreover, as Critical Infrastructure (CI) becomes increasingly intertwined with national political action, the ramifications of disruptions can lead to more significant economic and security implications, which is why commercial operators must take a military-style approach to risk.

Leveraging Military Tactics for Maritime Security

Given that many maritime assets are now perceived as legitimate military targets, there are a few military tactics that can be used. One such approach is Route Surveying, where a baseline understanding of the underwater landscape allows operators to detect and act upon abnormalities more efficiently, much like military mine countermeasure strategies.

Many navies are now investigating the use of unmanned systems—both human-in-the-loop and out-of-the-loop variants – for this type of activity. These systems are becoming more capable in range, speed, and endurance, providing extended surveillance and operational capabilities. UAVs and UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles) can conduct extensive underwater surveys and monitor infrastructure like offshore wind farms, providing real-time data and intelligence.

Data integration

Once that data is gathered, militaries would then use their C2 systems to compile the Recognised Maritime Picture (RMP). While most maritime surveillance today relies heavily on the Automatic Identification System (AIS), the military goes further by integrating all available information—AIS, radar, sonar, and other sensors—to build a comprehensive, actionable picture of the maritime environment. This allows for threats to be accurately identified, allowing for timely responses.

With much of the world’s critical infrastructure concentrated in maritime choke points, they are high-value targets. Publicly available information on undersea cable terminals or offshore wind turbine substations also makes these sites vulnerable. Integrating unmanned systems into the surveillance network helps provide 24/7 monitoring, while AI-powered data fusion technologies can enable faster decision-making—key to staying ahead of potential disruptions.

For this to be effective however, solutions that allow different systems to communicate and share data seamlessly are key. As an example, the Federated Mission Networking (FMN) system used in military operations focuses on standardising communication protocols and ensuring compatibility between different technologies. Adopting similar standards in the commercial sector would simplify the integration of various systems—radar, sonar, AIS, and cyber defences—into a cohesive platform, significantly bolstering the protection of offshore assets.

Europe Leading the Way

Europe has been at the forefront of maritime security, particularly in response to growing threats around Critical Infrastructure (CI). The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines underscores the increasing vulnerability of these assets. In response, the EU has implemented the Directive on the Resilience of Critical Entities, requiring member states to adopt national strategies for the protection of critical infrastructure.

These policy changes, combined with sensor and data-sharing initiatives, create a more resilient and integrated approach to maritime security. Denmark, for instance, has collaborated with wind farm operators to improve radar coverage and enhance situational awareness around offshore wind farms.

And finally…

The commercial sector must take decisive steps to secure maritime and offshore assets by understanding the evolving threat landscape and adopting military-style tactics. By leveraging advanced technologies, improving situational awareness, and fostering greater collaboration with government agencies, the commercial sector can mitigate risks and safeguard the assets that underpin our global economy.