The maritime industry, a critical component of global trade, faces an evolving landscape of risks. According to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2025, which surveyed 3,778 risk management experts, the most pressing concerns are cyber threats, business interruption, and natural catastrophes.

Emerging Risks in the Maritime Industry

Cyber Threats

Cyber incidents top the list, with 38% of responses highlighting this as the most important risk. The maritime sector, increasingly reliant on digital technologies, is particularly vulnerable. From automated systems on vessels to port management software, each digital touchpoint presents an opportunity for cyberattacks. The CrowdStrike outage serves as a stark reminder of the potential disruptions.

Business Interruption

Closely linked to cyber threats, business interruption is ranked second (31%). Any disruption in the maritime supply chain can have cascading effects, impacting global trade and logistics. Whether due to cyber incidents, natural catastrophes, or regulatory changes, ensuring business continuity is paramount.

Natural Catastrophes and Climate Change

Natural catastrophes, ranked third (29%), and climate change, climbing to fifth place (19%), underscore the environmental challenges faced by the maritime industry. Extreme weather events, such as the devastating floods in Spain, can disrupt operations and damage infrastructure. Climate change also brings regulatory compliance costs and operational disruptions from more extreme weather and ecosystem degradation.

Interconnected Risks and Resilience

Regulatory and Geopolitical Risks

Changes in legislation and regulation (25%) retain the fourth position, reflecting the industry’s need to adapt to new sustainability and technology regulations. Geopolitical risks, though not in the top three, are increasingly intertwined with other risks, adding complexity to the maritime sector’s operations.

Building Resilience

Michael Bruch, Global Head of Risk Advisory Services at Allianz Commercial, emphasizes the interconnectivity of these risks. Building resilience is crucial, as a change in one risk can have knock-on effects on others. The maritime industry must prioritize resilience measures, learning from past events like the pandemic and recent global crises.

Conclusion

The maritime industry faces a complex web of risks, from cyber threats and business interruptions to natural catastrophes and climate change. As these risks become more interconnected, building resilience is essential. By addressing these challenges proactively, the maritime sector can navigate the evolving risk landscape and ensure continued operational success.

Sources:

• What Keeps Business Leaders Awake At Night? – marinelink.com
• Evolving industries: what keeps business leaders awake at night?
• Evolving industries: what keeps business leaders awake at night?
• Vikram Thakur’s Post – LinkedIn
• Evolving industries: what keeps business leaders awake at night …
• What keeps business leaders awake at night? – LinkedIn
• Evolving industries: what keeps business leaders awake at night?
• Evolving industries: what keeps business leaders awake at night …
• Evolving industries: what keeps business leaders awake at night?
• Evolving industries: what keeps business leaders awake at night?