It’s 08:00. A new maritime anomaly alert just came in – there’s an unexpected surge of vessels in a sensitive area.
The analyst’s job: explain it. Fast.
Before: Cognitive and Resource Overload
Step one: scan for answers. Dozens of browser tabs open – global news outlets, niche maritime blogs, obscure local news sites (in languages they can’t read), weather trackers, shipping advisories, satellite imagery tools, and social media posts from activists and port spotters.
Step two: build the timeline. Piece together when the anomaly started. Match snippets of data to the right time frame. Was it triggered by bad weather? A new regulation? A strike? A naval deployment?
Step three: connect the dots. This is the hardest part – turning “something strange is happening” into “this is why” and “this is what it could mean.” It often involves interviewing colleagues, reviewing classified partner feeds, and making informed judgments — all under tight deadline pressure.
Step four: write it up. Not just for documentation. This needs to be clear, strategic, and actionable – the kind of report decision-makers can actually use.
Now it’s hours later, and in high-stakes environments, the window for action may already be closing. And that was…