Cyberattacks on Oil Tankers Put Maritime Critical Infrastructure at Risk
Brief
Cyberattacks on oil tankers show how connected ships can expose navigation and critical systems, threatening safety, ports and global trade.
U. S. Coast Guard personnel and FBI agents boarded two Texas‑bound energy tankers last month after cyberattacks hit the vessels while they were underway, according to U. S. officials. One of the ships was the VL Prosperity, a 1,093‑foot Liberian‑flagged crude oil supertanker headed to Galveston, Texas.
Iranian state media identified the ship soon after the incident and claimed hackers gained access to propulsion, navigation and cargo systems, knocking out communications for about 30 hours.
“U. S. Coast Guard personnel and FBI agents boarded two Texas-bound energy tankers last month after cyberattacks struck the vessels while they were traveling toward the United States, according to U. S. officials.” CBS News reports .