• Industry News
  • January 3, 2026

Ageing Fleets, Rising Risks

Introduction

As Winning Shipping continues expanding its capesize fleet by acquiring older vessels, maritime stakeholders must reassess operational risk. With ageing tonnage forming a larger portion of global cargo traffic, security and compliance considerations take centre stage.

Industry context

A proliferation of older bulk carriers heightens exposure to piracy, smuggling, and cyber threats—especially in high-risk corridors such as the Gulf of Guinea and Southeast Asia. Ageing hulls may lack modern protection systems, increasing vulnerability during rerouting and port calls. Compliance with ISPS and IMO standards becomes more challenging when onboard systems and protocols have not been updated in line with newer threats. Crew safety also becomes more complex, as older ships demand additional training and operational vigilance.

Practical measures

  • Deploy trained vessel protection teams on transit routes through high-risk regions.
  • Implement regular anti-piracy and emergency response drills tailored to older ship layouts.
  • Upgrade cybersecurity protocols to defend aging navigation and communication systems.
  • Use intelligence-led routing to avoid current hotspots for maritime crime.
  • Review and enforce updated standard operating procedures aligned with vessel condition and crew capacity.

Further resources

To explore how MS Security Group safeguards operators in high-risk zones, visit our capabilities overview or see our full range of services.

Source

Original article: Splash 247

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

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