The Unseen Threat: Why Maritime Cybersecurity is the Next Big Risk
▼ Summary
– Maritime transport is adapting to economic, political, and technological shifts, with innovations improving efficiency but also introducing new security vulnerabilities.
– Ships and ports face significant cyber risks, including ransomware, espionage, and GNSS interference, with incidents like the MV Dali collision and NotPetya attack highlighting potential consequences.
– A lack of in-house cybersecurity expertise, limited supply chain visibility, and insufficient coordination among stakeholders hinder effective risk management and incident response.
– AI-powered cyberattacks pose emerging threats, such as manipulating navigation systems or enhancing phishing, raising concerns among security leaders about new vulnerabilities.
– Regulatory bodies like the U.S. Coast Guard, EU, and IMO are strengthening cybersecurity standards, mandating measures like officer appointments, incident reporting, and risk assessments to build resilience.
The global shipping industry, which carries over 80% of world trade, faces a rapidly evolving digital threat landscape as it embraces technological innovation. While automation, remote monitoring, and energy management systems have brought unprecedented efficiency, they have also introduced serious vulnerabilities. Criminal elements are increasingly drawn to these high-value digital systems, where a single breach can endanger lives, disrupt commerce, and cause environmental harm.
Modern vessels rely on complex operational technology that, if compromised, could lead to catastrophic outcomes. The incident involving the MV Dali, which lost power and struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, underscores how technical failures, or potential cyber interference, can have devastating real-world consequences. Although no cyberattack was confirmed, the event highlighted alarming gaps in preparedness. Shockingly, only 17% of shipyards report having adequate in-house expertise to protect against cyber threats.
Port facilities represent another critical vulnerability. These hubs manage enormous volumes of sensitive data, shipping routes, cargo details, financial records, all of which are attractive to cybercriminals. The decentralized nature of port management, involving public, private, and non-governmental entities, complicates the development of unified security protocols. Without standardized procedures for identifying or responding to incidents, ports struggle to coordinate effective defenses.
Many ports depend heavily on third-party vendors, yet lack visibility into their extended supply chains. This obscurity, combined with inconsistent cybersecurity practices and limited oversight of vendor safeguards, makes comprehensive risk assessment extremely difficult. An attack on a single port may cause localized disruption, but a coordinated strike across multiple facilities could paralyze global supply chains.
Financially motivated hackers, ransomware syndicates, and hacktivists are zeroing in on maritime targets, especially as geopolitical friction increases. Ransomware remains a top concern for port operators. The 2017 NotPetya attack on Maersk, attributed to Russian military affiliates, forced 76 terminals offline and crippled tens of thousands of systems. More recently, groups like 8Base have stolen sensitive documents from port authorities, while retailer MarineMax saw financial and customer data exposed.
Beyond ransomware, cyber espionage poses a continuous threat due to the sector’s strategic significance. NATO’s CCDCOE has warned that ports handling the majority of world trade are being targeted by state-linked actors from Russia, Iran, and China. In one dramatic example, the Lab-Dookhtegan group disrupted communications across 60 Iranian vessels, illustrating how precise cyber strikes can isolate entire fleets.
Another growing concern is the interference with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), where jamming and spoofing techniques mislead ship navigation. Nation-states, particularly Russia, but also Iran and China, are actively deploying these methods, endangering maritime safety whether intentionally or as collateral damage.
Artificial intelligence introduces yet another layer of risk. AI-powered attacks could manipulate navigation data, generate hyper-realistic phishing campaigns, or exploit vulnerabilities at machine speed. Nearly three-quarters of security leaders express high concern about AI-enhanced threats, and many fear that AI will uncover new weaknesses in their systems. As Curity CTO Jacob Ideskog noted, techniques to bypass AI safeguards are already emerging in controlled settings, and it’s only a matter of time before malicious actors deploy them in the wild.
To counter these threats, companies must perform ongoing risk assessments and constantly adapt their defenses. Workforce training is essential at every level. Employees should learn to recognize phishing and social engineering tactics, and be prepared to revert to manual operations during digital outages. Human error remains the weakest link in most successful cyber incidents.
Collaboration across the industry is equally vital. While competitive instincts are natural, sharing intelligence about threats, vulnerabilities, and supply chain risks strengthens everyone’s security. Establishing formal communication channels with other operators and government agencies helps disseminate best practices, accelerate threat detection, and build sector-wide resilience.
Regulators are also stepping in. In the United States, the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2025 cybersecurity rule requires vessels and port facilities to designate Cybersecurity Officers, report incidents, train personnel, and implement formal cyber protections. The European Union’s NIS2 Directive mandates risk management and incident reporting for maritime operators. Globally, the International Maritime Organization has updated its guidelines to integrate cybersecurity into Safety Management Systems, urging regular risk assessments, incident planning, and third-party evaluations.
The message is clear: cybersecurity is no longer an IT issue, it is a fundamental matter of safety, reliability, and economic stability for the entire maritime industry.
(Source: HelpNet Security)
