ost maritime issues for most people are out of sight and out of mind. While 90% of world trade happens by sea and 99% of the world’s telephonic and internet communication traverses submarine cables, many people cannot believe our level of reliance on the maritime domain, much less appreciate it. The resulting invisibility of the maritime space has become a major draw for criminals and nefarious actors who thrive in pursuing illicit objectives where no one is looking. Among those bad actors, terrorists have found a particularly attractive opportunity to use the 70% of the earth that is covered in water in order to advance their own interests.
Terrorism is not simply about spectacular attacks. It is about financing, logistics, preparation and sustainment. When thinking of “maritime terrorism,” however, most only ponder major incidents like the bombing of the USS COLE in 2000. Many do not even think of the Mumbai terrorists who launched their horrific attacks in November 2008 by sea. Fewer still think of Abu Sayyaf using maritime smuggling of fuel to develop the logistics and sustainment needed for the Siege of Marawi in May 2017. And almost no one thinks of the use of maritime trade to finance groups like Hezbollah or Al Shabab until it is too overwhelming not to notice.
Even before the Houthis began attacking ships on the 19th of November 2023, maritime incidents from the last few years would have afforded any terrorist group an abundance of inspiration. The Beirut blast on 4 August 2020 was the result of a single vessel’s abandoned cargo being left for too long. The EVER GIVEN getting stuck in the Suez Canal in March 2023 cost the shipping industry $416 million per hour. More recently, the allision between the DALI and the Key Bridge in Baltimore created more infrastructural challenges for the U.S. than many “successful” terrorist attacks have in the past.
While maritime matters may be out of sight and out of mind, disruptions to maritime commerce are felt. Goods—including critical supplies like food and medicine—become either unavailable or unaffordable, and specific shipments do not make it to their destination. The economic consequences and societal turmoil resulting from interfering with even a single ship often exceeds the impact of blowing up a building. With the abundance of recent inspiration, the world must be prepared for terrorists to use the maritime space in a myriad of ways to inflict global pain and pursue global attention.
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Maritime terrorism is on the rise whether we notice it or not
Sea trade port in Portugal. Image by Maksym Kaharlytskyi from Unsplash.
May 23, 2024
Despite 90% of world trade and 99% of internet communication relying on the sea, maritime issues remain largely invisible to many. This hidden realm has become a haven for terrorists, who exploit it for financing and logistics—highlighting the need to bolster maritime security, writes Dr. Ian Ralby.
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ost maritime issues for most people are out of sight and out of mind. While 90% of world trade happens by sea and 99% of the world’s telephonic and internet communication traverses submarine cables, many people cannot believe our level of reliance on the maritime domain, much less appreciate it. The resulting invisibility of the maritime space has become a major draw for criminals and nefarious actors who thrive in pursuing illicit objectives where no one is looking. Among those bad actors, terrorists have found a particularly attractive opportunity to use the 70% of the earth that is covered in water in order to advance their own interests.
Terrorism is not simply about spectacular attacks. It is about financing, logistics, preparation and sustainment. When thinking of “maritime terrorism,” however, most only ponder major incidents like the bombing of the USS COLE in 2000. Many do not even think of the Mumbai terrorists who launched their horrific attacks in November 2008 by sea. Fewer still think of Abu Sayyaf using maritime smuggling of fuel to develop the logistics and sustainment needed for the Siege of Marawi in May 2017. And almost no one thinks of the use of maritime trade to finance groups like Hezbollah or Al Shabab until it is too overwhelming not to notice.
Even before the Houthis began attacking ships on the 19th of November 2023, maritime incidents from the last few years would have afforded any terrorist group an abundance of inspiration. The Beirut blast on 4 August 2020 was the result of a single vessel’s abandoned cargo being left for too long. The EVER GIVEN getting stuck in the Suez Canal in March 2023 cost the shipping industry $416 million per hour. More recently, the allision between the DALI and the Key Bridge in Baltimore created more infrastructural challenges for the U.S. than many “successful” terrorist attacks have in the past.
While maritime matters may be out of sight and out of mind, disruptions to maritime commerce are felt. Goods—including critical supplies like food and medicine—become either unavailable or unaffordable, and specific shipments do not make it to their destination. The economic consequences and societal turmoil resulting from interfering with even a single ship often exceeds the impact of blowing up a building. With the abundance of recent inspiration, the world must be prepared for terrorists to use the maritime space in a myriad of ways to inflict global pain and pursue global attention.
