X-Industry

Threat Type: Foreign Adversarial Technological, Physical, and Cyber Influence

Geographic Area: Worldwide

This advisory supersedes and cancels US Maritime Advisory 2024-002

1. Issue: This Advisory seeks to alert maritime stakeholders of potential vulnerabilities to maritime port equipment, networks, operating systems, software, and infrastructure. Foreign companies manufacture, install, and maintain port equipment that creates vulnerabilities to global maritime infrastructure information technology

The maritime transportation system, the lifeblood of global trade, is undergoing a digital revolution.  Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming how ships operate and cargo moves.  However, this increased reliance on technology creates a double-edged sword: while AI offers powerful tools for cybersecurity, it also presents new vulnerabilities to exploit. The growing threat of adversarial AI (AAI) in maritime cyber security and how the industry can navigate these challenging w

Staying Connected - Cruise company Carnival Corporation has agreed a partnership with Neuron, formerly ESpace Networks, to implement Neuron’s vendor-neutral connectivity management platform to optimize internet access on its ships.  The move is part of Carnival Corporation’s wider connectivity optimization strategy, which is focused on providing the best available connection at sea.  The Neuron 360 platform provides an end-to-end view of connectivity operations and real-time data to proactively

A cyberattack that caused port operations to grind to a halt at four container terminals should be subject to a federal probe as a union pushes for DP World to reveal what it knew about the risks.  The Dubai-controlled stevedore, which handles 40% of the nation's international freight, closed its Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle port operations after detecting a breach on November 10.  Trucks were left idling at port gates and the transfer of 30,000 containers was delayed, with the back

It is not just the frequency of the cyber-attacks, but also the severity can be critical, for example the Port of Nagoya in Japan that had to shut down operations for more than three days after a ransomware attack.  In addition, new critical vulnerabilities were published in major hardware and software commonly used by shipping companies: just in the last month we saw new critical vulnerabilities in major brands of firewalls, routers, internet browsers (practically all of them), operating system

Not every time there is a supply chain slowdown or stoppage, it is caused by criminal hackers.  The recent supply chain woes in Seattle and other maritime ports along the west coast of the US, is actually a worker’s slowdown.  The Port of Seattle shut its cargo operations on 10 June, adding to sporadic disruptions that have plagued West Coast ports for over a week.

The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents ocean carriers and terminal operators, blamed “coordinated and disruptive w

At a time when vessels and other critical maritime infrastructure are becoming increasingly connected to IT systems, less than half (40%) of maritime professionals think their organization is investing enough in cyber security, according to new research from DNV.[1]  While the maritime industry has focused on enhancing IT security over recent decades, said the class society, the security of operational technology (OT) – which manages, monitors, controls and automates physical assets – is ‘a more

The International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH) has recently published its summary report “Closing the Gaps," highlighting key actions in digitalization, decarbonization and resilience the maritime sector.”[1]  IAPH defines and identifies the principal gaps in port and port-related infrastructure on a global scale.  These gaps were identified in terms of efficiency, connectivity and accessibility, digitalization, decarbonization, shipping costs and regulatory environment.

The report serv

In the past several weeks, South Africa has experience violent riots in response to the arrest of its former president.[1]  The unrest is having serious repercussions for the country's mining sector. The outbursts, located in the province of KwaZulu Natal, are hampering the activity of local mines, but also that of Durban and Richards Bay port terminals.  On 22 July, a cyber-​​attack has directly disrupted the operation of South Africa’s busiest container terminal.  It’s the largest on the Afric