Geopolitical Instability and its Impact on Global Maritime Supply Chain Resilience

Faculty of Engineering and Technology Department of Maritime and Mechanical Engineering

Assessment Brief 2025

Module Code: 7104MARS

Module Title: Advanced Maritime Safety, Security Operations and Logistics

Assessment Title: Assessment 1: Critical Analysis Report – Geopolitical Instability and its Impact on Global Maritime Supply Chain Resilience

Assessment Weighting: 50% of overall module mark

Word Count: 3,000 words (+/- 10%)

Submission Deadline: Friday, 5th December 2025, 16:00 BST

Submission Method: Electronic submission via the Canvas VLE (Turnitin enabled)

Module Leader: [Professor’s Name]

1. Assessment Task Description

The last five years have demonstrated the acute vulnerability of global maritime logistics to a confluence of threats, including pandemics, geopolitical conflicts, and sophisticated cyber-attacks. Incidents such as the blockage of the Suez Canal and, more recently, the persistent attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi militants have exposed critical chokepoints and systemic weaknesses in the maritime supply chain. These events have forced a re-evaluation of established safety and security protocols, most notably the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

You are required to produce a critical analysis report for an international maritime stakeholder body (e.g., the International Maritime Organization – IMO).

Your report must:

1. Critically analyse the contemporary security threats affecting a major international shipping lane of your choice (e.g., the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca). Your analysis should focus on the nature of these threats (e.g., piracy, terrorism, state-sponsored aggression, cyber-attacks) and their direct impact on vessel safety, crew welfare, and logistical operations.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of the current international maritime security framework, primarily the ISPS Code, in mitigating the specific threats you have identified.
3. Propose and justify a set of multi-faceted recommendations to enhance the resilience of maritime supply chains against such disruptions. Your recommendations should consider advancements in technology (e.g., AI-driven threat assessment, autonomous surveillance), policy reform, and public-private partnerships.

2. Guidance on Structure and Content

Your report should be structured professionally and may include the following sections:

• Executive Summary: A concise overview of the report’s purpose, key findings, and main recommendations.
• Introduction: Define the scope of your report, identify the chosen shipping lane, and outline the critical issues concerning maritime safety, security, and logistics in this context.
• Threat Landscape Analysis: A detailed examination of the specific threats in your chosen region. Use credible data and case studies to illustrate their operational and economic impact.
• Critique of the ISPS Code and Existing Frameworks: Move beyond a simple description. Analyse the strengths and, more importantly, the weaknesses of current regulations when faced with modern, asymmetrical, and technologically advanced threats.
• Recommendations for Enhanced Resilience: Present well-reasoned and actionable recommendations. Each recommendation should be justified with evidence, considering its feasibility, potential cost, and impact on various stakeholders (shipping companies, seafarers, governments, cargo owners).
• Conclusion: Summarise the key arguments of your report and reiterate the urgency and importance of adopting a more dynamic and integrated approach to maritime security.
• Reference List: A comprehensive list of all sources cited, formatted in LJMU Harvard style.

3. Module Learning Outcomes Assessed

This assessment will test your ability to:

• (LO1) Critically evaluate the complex interplay between geopolitical events, security threats, and the operational management of maritime logistics.
• (LO2) Analyse the effectiveness and limitations of international regulatory frameworks governing maritime safety and security.
• (LO3) Synthesise information from diverse academic, industry, and governmental sources to formulate evidence-based arguments.
• (LO4) Formulate and professionally communicate strategic recommendations for improving maritime supply chain resilience.

4. Marking Criteria

 References (Harvard Format)

1. Bueger, C. and Edmunds, T. (2020) ‘Beyond seablindness: a new agenda for maritime security studies’, International Affairs, 96(6), pp. 1293-1311.
2. Heni, F., Othman, W. and Hamdan, A. (2022) ‘A Comprehensive Review of Cybersecurity Challenges in Maritime Industry 4.0’, in Proceedings of the 2022 2nd International Conference on Advanced Information Technology and Security (ICAITS). IEEE, pp. 1-8. doi: 10.1109/ICAITS55715.2022.9868311.
3. Lister, J. (2024) ‘Red Sea crisis: cascading risks through maritime supply chains’, Maritime Policy & Management, 51(2), pp. 183-186. doi: 10.1080/03088839.2024.2311749.
4. Papatheodorou, A., Dalaklis, D. and Kourounioti, I. (2021) ‘Managing cybersecurity risks in the interconnected maritime transport ecosystem’, WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, 20(3), pp. 313-332.
5. Rau, M. (2023) Maritime Security and the Securitisation of Maritime Spaces: The Case of the European Union. Cham: Springer International Publishing.