Maritime Security Report: 6–12 October 2025

Palaemon Maritime
21m
3 min read

GNSS Interference, Armed Robbery, and Drone Warfare Across Global Shipping Routes

This week’s maritime incidents highlight an increasingly complex threat landscape — from navigational interference in the Red Sea and armed robbery off West Africa, to drone activity and port infrastructure strikes in Europe.

Maritime security incidents during 6-12th October 2025.

Executive Summary

Operators across multiple regions continue to face diverse risks:

GNSS interference and AIS spoofing in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
Armed robbery at anchorages in Central Africa.
Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) identified and destroyed off Türkiye.
Drone strikes targeting Ukrainian port infrastructure.

Maritime operators are advised to maintain full BMP5 compliance, enhance watchkeeping, and verify all position data against traditional navigation systems during transits through affected regions.

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Regional Breakdown

1. Red Sea / Indian Ocean – GNSS and AIS Interference

Between 3–7 October, multiple vessels reported GNSS interference and AIS anomalies when transiting the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

UKMTO has advised ships to verify positions through manual navigation, maintain visual cross-checking, and report anomalies immediately.

This ongoing interference increases navigational risk and situational uncertainty for vessels transiting through one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.

2. West Africa (DRC) – Armed Robbery at Anchorage

On 6 October, armed robbers boarded a Marshall Islands–flagged tanker at Ikungulu Anchorage, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The intruders stole ship stores before escaping when the crew raised the alarm.

No injuries were reported.

This marks another incident in a series of opportunistic robberies across West African anchorages, underscoring the need for enhanced vigilance and layered defences.

3. Europe (Türkiye) – Unmanned Surface Vessel Destroyed

An unmanned surface vessel (USV) was identified adrift near Hopa, Türkiye, on 8 October.

Turkish naval units conducted a controlled detonation to neutralise the device.

The origin of the USV remains unclear, but its presence highlights the spread of unmanned maritime threats beyond active conflict zones.

Operators are advised to remain alert for drifting objects, debris, or unusual maritime traffic.

4. Ukraine (Odesa) – Port Infrastructure Targeted by Drone Strikes

On 9 October, Russian drone attacks targeted Odesa port facilities, setting multiple storage tanks ablaze and injuring five personnel.

The strikes disrupted operations and cut power to approximately 30,000 residents.

Port infrastructure across the northern Black Sea continues to face sustained aerial threat activity.

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Analysis

This week’s events reinforce several ongoing maritime security trends:

Electronic warfare and cyber interference are expanding beyond traditional conflict zones.
Low-level armed robberies persist in anchorages where port control and enforcement remain limited.
Drone and unmanned systems continue to redefine the nature of maritime threats.

Ship operators are encouraged to:

Maintain enhanced situational awareness and manual navigation checks.
Apply BMP5 measures in all high-risk regions.
Coordinate with UKMTO, ReCAAP, or local MRCCs for incident reporting and threat intelligence.

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