Trade Truce Raises Risks

Trade Truce Raises Risks

Introduction

A new agreement halting retaliatory port tariffs between the US and China is set to begin next week. While promising for global trade, the rise in cargo movement will also stretch existing maritime security frameworks.

Industry context

This port fee suspension is expected to increase vessel activity—especially bulk carriers transporting commodities like soybeans—through congested shipping corridors. With traffic density rising, so too do the associated security pressures: piracy in choke points, cyber threats to navigation systems, stowaway risks, and more complex ISPS compliance. Crew fatigue and routing risks are particularly concerning amid surges in volume without proportional increases in port readiness or onshore security.

Practical measures

• Deploy embarked security teams for transits through known choke points or congested approaches.
• Enhance crew watchkeeping schedules to reduce fatigue-related vulnerabilities during high-traffic operations.
• Conduct cyber hygiene drills and verify ECDIS integrity before voyages through sensitive areas.
• Use maritime risk intelligence to plan adaptive routing and reduce time in exposed zones.
• Review and rehearse anti-boarding SOPs ahead of calls at under-resourced high-volume terminals.

Further resources

Explore how we safeguard critical merchant traffic on our capabilities page, or view our full maritime services.

Source

Original article: Splash247: Port fees truce to begin

Careers

If you're interested in joining our team, apply here: Join MS Security.

---

Prepared by MS Security Group — experts in vessel protection, anti-piracy, and counter-narcotics operations.