More than 1,100 vessels in the Persian Gulf have experienced GPS and AIS interference within the past 24 hours, according to maritime intelligence company Windward Ltd..

Large-scale and intermittent GNSS disruptions have been recorded, affecting navigation, positioning, and communication systems, including AIS and VHF.

Operators are being advised to avoid high-risk waters, including the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the northern Arabian Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz where possible.

Additional safety guidance has also been issued:

— US-flagged vessels or ships with American crews should remain at least 30 nautical miles away from US naval vessels

— continuous communication with naval channels is recommended

Crews are also advised to cross-check GPS positioning with radar, visual bearings, and other navigation methods.

Windward reports multiple cases of AIS spoofing, where vessels appeared to be incorrectly “relocated” to airports, nuclear facilities, or inland locations in Iran, Oman, and the UAE. At least 21 new clusters of AIS interference have been detected in waters near the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Iran.

For global shipping, these incidents highlight a growing challenge: electronic interference is becoming a standalone operational risk in one of the world’s most critical energy trade corridors, affecting routing decisions, insurance costs, and crew safety.

Windward Ltd. is a global maritime intelligence company specializing in AIS data analytics and maritime risk assessment. Founded in 2010, the company is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market.

AD Ports Group has signed a 30-year concession agreement with Aqaba Development Corporation to manage and operate the Aqaba Multipurpose Port — Jordan’s only general and project cargo port.

The project will be implemented through a joint venture structure, with 70% held by AD Ports Group and 30% by ADC. The Group plans to invest AED 141 million ($38.4 million) and is expected to officially assume operational control in August this year.

Aqaba Port handles approximately 80% of Jordan’s exports and 65% of its imports, serving as a key transit gateway for regional trade, including flows to Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The port processes general cargo, grain, livestock, Ro-Ro, and project cargo, with an annual capacity of around 11 million tons, 9 berths, a 2-km quay line, and a maximum draft of 13.5 meters.

This marks AD Ports Group’s largest infrastructure investment in Jordan to date, strengthening its presence in the region and reinforcing Aqaba’s role as a strategic logistics hub.

Founded in 2006 in the UAE, AD Ports Group is an integrated ports, logistics, and maritime services operator. The company is publicly listed, with a controlling stake held by the Abu Dhabi government via ADQ.

Algeria has officially opened the Western Mining Railway, Africa’s first heavy-haul railway built across desert terrain, marking a major milestone for the country’s transport infrastructure. The new line is expected to strengthen Algeria’s national rail network and support economic development and connectivity in the country’s south-western regions.

The railway stretches 950 km, with 575 km constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) in partnership with Algerian state-owned companies. The project represents the largest infrastructure development ever undertaken by a Chinese company in Algeria and is designed specifically for transporting heavy bulk cargo from mining areas across the desert.

The launch highlights China’s growing role in large-scale rail infrastructure in Africa and Algeria’s focus on expanding logistics capacity beyond coastal regions.

Chinese company Guoyou Materials is developing a project to construct a multifunctional port complex in Kuryk on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. The project’s investment volume is estimated at $1.1 billion, with the port positioned as a key logistics hub linking China – the Caspian region – the Caucasus – Europe as part of the Middle Corridor development.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with full commercial operations expected by 2028. The project includes the development of a modern transshipment cluster featuring seven berths, warehouse and logistics facilities, rail and road access, as well as digital cargo management solutions, including TOS systems and EDI integration.

The designed capacity of the first phase will reach up to 180,000 TEU of container cargo per year, up to 180,000 vehicles, and approximately 2–3 million tons of bulk cargo. The port is expected to significantly strengthen the transit potential of the Caspian region and enhance the role of the Middle Corridor in Eurasian logistics.

China’s first vacuum-based automatic mooring system has been put into operation at the Port of Qingdao, reducing mooring time to just 30 seconds compared with 20–30 minutes using conventional methods. The system began operating on January 1 at a fully automated container terminal and was first used during the berthing of the 366-meter-long container vessel MSC Saudi Arabia. Mooring is carried out without human involvement: vacuum modules secure the vessel’s hull directly to the quay, eliminating the need for mooring lines. The system consists of 13 modules installed along the berth and is designed to handle container ships longer than 200 meters. According to port authorities, the technology is expected to reduce total berth time by more than 200 hours per year, equivalent to handling over ten additional vessel calls at a single berth. Beyond productivity gains, the key benefit lies in improved industrial safety, as removing manual operations in mooring zones significantly reduces risks for port workers. The project further strengthens Qingdao’s role as a benchmark site for scaling intelligent port technologies across China.