Maritime Cyber Security Goes Critical

The maritime shipping industry is increasingly vulnerable to cyber attackers seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in their interconnected systems, as more shipowners and ports adopt digitalisation to optimise operations.

There are thousands of ports around the world receiving more than 50,000 commercial vessels, making over 5 million port calls per year. 

More of these ships and ports are connected to the Internet and online applications, leaving them vulnerable to cyber threats. Shipping companies and organisations are increasingly the victims of criminal cyber attacks over the last few years and recent victims include the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) headquarters in London. 

Recent attacks hit the world’s second, third and fourth-largest container lines, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Cosco, CMA CGM and the world’s largest cruise shipping group Carnival Corporation. Now, the implementation and control of cyber security has been highlighted as a key aspect of safety by the IMO as technology becomes essential in ship operations. 

International shipping transports more than 80 per cent of global trade to peoples and communities all over the world and is considered the most efficient and cost-effective method of international transportation for most goods, providing a dependable, low-cost means of transporting goods globally, facilitating commerce and helping to create prosperity among nations and peoples but now cyber-attacks are a real risk to shipping.

To mitigate risks, shipping companies should “take a risk-based approach and a smart view” to focus attention on protecting core assets" says Andy Powel CISO of AP Moller-Maersk, who thinks that shipping companies should ensure they know how to recover their business after an attack. “Understand the risks and threats, and that you cannot fix everything.... You need to do top-down risk assessments and invest appropriately in security,” he told shipping company attendees to the recent Inmex SMM Virtual Expo 

The world relies on a safe, secure and efficient international shipping industry, and this is provided by the regulatory framework developed and maintained by IMO. Modern ships are technologically advanced workplaces and IMO plays an important part in shaping those developments,”  Wu Shengwei, head of shipping and technical advisory for DNV GL told confernce delegates.

The transformation towards smart shipping means that technology permeates many aspects of ship operations. Cyber technologies have become essential to the operation and management of numerous systems critical to the safety and security of shipping, including bridge systems, cargo handling, propulsion, machinery management systems, power control systems and administrative and crew welfare systems.  With the process of digitalisation accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic maritime cyber attacks have become more common in 2020,  not only in shipping, but worlwide.

In recognition of this, the IMO will require that the cyber security risks be addressed in a vessel’s safety management system from the annual verification of its Document of Compliance with effect from 1 January 2021.

While systems can be protected and recovered using IT systems, it is important  that the human participants have an understanding of  the risks associated with the operation of critical systems and that mariners get the training they need to practice good cyber discipline in the maritime industry.

IMO:        SeaTrade-Maritime:           RivieraMM:    BIMCO:      SeaTrade-Maritime:         RivieraMM:

You Might Also Read:

Why Real-Time Data Matters To The Maritime Industry: