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Whitepaper
The 2026 Maritime Forecast: Intelligence for an Unstable World
2025 marked the point at which global instability increasingly appears structural. What had once been seen as temporary supply shocks, sanctions experiments, or climate disputes has evolved into a permanent condition of bifurcation. As 2026 takes shape, early signals point to deeper instability: escalating tariffs, shadow fleet crackdowns, infrastructure threats, and rerouted supply chains are compounding risk across maritime operations.
This whitepaper delivers forward-looking analysis from Windward's experts on the forces steering 2026: sanctions, security, energy, trade policy, and technology. It's the clarity operators, regulators, and decision-makers need to act with confidence.
Understand the Forces That Will Shape 2026 Maritime Risk
This whitepaper combines Windward analyst insights, Maritime AI™ data, and global trade enforcement trends to prepare you for 2026.
Inside, you’ll find:
- A date-driven global outlook: tariff volatility, sanctions evolution, and strategic decoupling.
- Real-world disruptions: false flags, shadow fleets, and infrastructure sabotage.
- Trade pressure points: rerouted cargo, longer voyages, rising freight costs.
- Enforcement escalation: Europe’s new boarding powers and U.S. secondary pressure.
- The technology frontier: remote sensing, AI, and verified operational awareness.
- Governance implications: data accountability, public-private collaboration, and intelligence trust.