"The resurgence of Al-Qaeda and affiliate organisations is occurring alongside some of the worlds' most strategically vulnerable and crowded waterways. The largely unforeseen consequence of the Arab Spring is that it has given terrorists groups a new lease of life and the means to do real harm to maritime activity in the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and at other key strategic choke points," said Gerry Northwood, chief operating officer of GoAGT.

"The growth of sea traffic has made the maritime industry a target rich environment and it isn't just the obvious targets like oil platforms and large cargo ships which are at risk, but the cruise liner industry provides Al-Qaeda with another opportunity to hit targets where the casualty numbers could be in the thousands," he warned.

"A terrorist attack targeting any of these key assets could have a high impact both physically and mentally in a traditionally terrorism free environment, but would be seen by Al-Qaeda as a headline attack that would promote their cause."

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Keywords: supply chain risk management, transportation management, ocean cargo, risk to ocean transportation, logistics services, logistics & supply chain, supply chain management