Vulnerability Analysis of Strategic Maritime Thoroughfare Network

International strategic thoroughfares a critical role in the global shipping network. They are susceptible to various factors, including political and military incidents, ship accidents, and extreme weather conditions. In order to examine the impact of interruptions in international strategic thoroughfares and the expansion of key nodes on the global shipping network, we initially gathered data on significant thoroughfares worldwide and their respective distances. Then, we constructed an undirected and weighted network of strategic thoroughfares. Next, we proceeded to compare and analyze the network nodes using characteristic indices derived from complex network theory. Subsequently, we simulated the interruption of significant thoroughfares and examined the resulting changes in network indices. Ultimately, the findings revealed that the efficiency of the network is most significantly impacted by the Suez Canal and the Strait of Mandeb. The Strait of Malacca, located near the Lombok Strait and Sunda Strait, demonstrated a less pronounced decrease in network efficiency following an attack. However, it remains a vulnerable node due to several incidents of pirate boarding in its vicinity.