Windward

Windward is a maritime analytics firm that provides data and intelligence on maritime activity, risk, and compliance. They analyze vessel behavior, ownership, and trade patterns to offer insights into various maritime activities. Windward is newsworthy due to its ability to track and analyze potentially illicit or unusual maritime activities, making their data valuable for understanding geopolitical events and sanctions enforcement. Recent events highlighting Windward's relevance include their reporting on the unprecedented halt in ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, coinciding with US and Israeli military actions. They also detected a Russian tanker allegedly delivering oil to Cuba using 'dark fleet' tactics to evade detection. Furthermore, they reported on a Venezuelan tanker, part of the 'dark fleet,' attempting to evade the US Coast Guard by disguising itself as a Russian vessel. These instances demonstrate Windward's significance in monitoring and exposing activities related to sanctions evasion, geopolitical tensions, and potentially illicit trade practices.