Anchors Aweigh: Navigating New Cybersecurity Currents in Maritime Industry

Anchors Aweigh: Navigating New Cybersecurity Currents in Maritime Industry

• Rising threats: Cyberattacks on shipping are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated.
• Old systems: Many vessels still run outdated software, which makes them easy targets.
• Regulation: International rules now require shipping companies to manage cyber risk.
• Shared defense: Industry groups and companies are pooling knowledge and resources.
• New technology: New tools bring both better defenses and new weaknesses.

Shipping comes into range

Attacks on shipping have grown as the industry has gone digital. Much of the fleet still runs on old systems that were never designed to be connected, which makes defending it hard. This piece looks at the threats at sea, the rules that apply and the technology being used to protect ships and ports.

Why ships are easy targets

Security researchers have warned for years that shipping depends on legacy systems. Navigation, engine control and cargo management software often dates from before anyone worried about hackers. Attackers are exploiting those weaknesses, and industry reports describe a sharp rise in incidents in recent years.

Attacks that already happened

The risk is real. Ransomware has shut down port operations, and GPS interference has pushed ships off their reported positions. Security firms have also reported a rise in phishing aimed at shipping companies and their suppliers, and those attacks cause delays and financial losses.

What the IMO requires

Regulators have stepped up. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) required shipping companies to address cyber risk in their safety management systems from January 1, 2021. Under those rules, vessels need documentation showing that cyber risks are covered by their safety management system.

Changing how crews work

Shipping companies are changing their security programs to comply. That means upgrading IT systems and teaching crews to recognize and report suspicious activity. Large carriers are leading the training effort, and smaller operators often follow their lead.

New tools on board

Technology cuts both ways at sea. New systems create new risks, but artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are also helping defenders detect intrusions earlier.

Connected ships, bigger risks

The technology is moving faster than the industry can secure it. As more ships add Internet of Things (IoT) devices, there are more ways for attackers to get in. Security has to keep pace with each new system added to a vessel.

Working together

Cooperation is central. Shipping companies are working with security firms, governments and even competitors to share what they learn. That sharing helps everyone respond faster.

Planning for recovery

Industry bodies such as BIMCO stress that preventing attacks is only half the job. Ship operators also need tested plans to recover quickly when an attack succeeds.

What ship operators should do

Shipping’s security problems will not be fixed quickly. Operators can start with an inventory of every connected system on each vessel, separate crew Wi-Fi from operational networks, and run a recovery drill that assumes navigation or cargo systems are offline. Rules will keep tightening, so the work done now will count later.

Dan Evert, CCNP

Dan Evert is a self proclaimed Router Jockey. Dan got heavily involved in networking right out of high school and has never looked back! Dan is giving back by working with high school students to get them involved and interested in Networking and Security.