Risks to Offshore Industry and Vessels Multiplying, Conference Hears

The range and type of threats facing the offshore industry and the commercial vessels supporting it has undergone a sea change in recent years, delegates at the 2026 Offshore Support Journal Conference Asia heard. Control Risks principal Brian Braun told the Singapore conference that geopolitical instability has become a permanent fixture of the industry. He argued that commercial shipping has become an arena for geopolitical competition, with vessels increasingly used as leverage between states rather than facing only traditional threats such as piracy.

 

The Changing Threat Landscape

 

The threats facing offshore vessels have transformed. This marks a sea change in recent years. It affects the offshore industry broadly. Commercial support vessels are also exposed. This reshapes the operating environment.

The shift reflects a fundamental change. Geopolitical crises were once episodic disruptions. They were inconvenient but not central. This assumption is now hard to sustain. Instability has become a permanent fixture.

 

Shipping as Geopolitical Leverage

 

Commercial shipping has taken on a new role. It has become an arena for competition. Ships are now geopolitical leverage. They are caught up in state rivalry. This goes beyond traditional threats.

States increasingly target commercial vessels. This serves strategic purposes. A vessel becomes a source of leverage. This relates to its flag or ownership. Its operator, charterer or cargo also matter.

 

The Grey-Zone Environment

 

A new form of conflict has emerged. It is characterised as grey-zone conflict. This is the new operating environment. It expands the range of risks. It goes beyond conventional military action.

The risks now span many forms. These include sanctions and regulatory action. Cyber-attacks are also a threat. Sabotage and detentions feature too. This broadens the threats vessels face.

 

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The State-Driven Shift

 

The source of threats has changed. Previously, pirates and terrorists shaped thinking. This affected insurance and routing. Now states drive the threats. State-backed actors are increasingly involved.

Several examples illustrate this shift. These include vessel seizures off Iran. The maritime dimension of Ukraine features. Red Sea attacks also demonstrate it. Neutrality is harder to maintain in this scenario.

 

The Nature of State Coercion

 

States operate differently from criminals. They rarely fire a shot. They have greater resources and reach. They are also more patient. They pursue objectives over time.

Their methods rely on ambiguity. They use missiles and drones. Covert sabotage is another tool. Seizures and detentions feature too. Deniability ties these methods together.

 

The Implications for Owners

 

Exposure now stems from relationships. A vessel need not be party to conflict. Its connections create pressure points. A single vessel has many fingerprints. Each connection becomes a vulnerability.

The consequences are already apparent. These include trapped vessels and higher insurance. Longer timelines are another effect. Contractual uncertainty also results. Owners must either manage crises individually or build resilient businesses.