Module 4 Case Paper: Maritime Security
Introduction

Maritime cyber attacks have already occurred in recent history, indicating the threat that cyber warfare poses for maritime security. The reality of this situation is so pressing that new International Maritime Organization (IMO) Cyber Security regulations are set to come into effect in 2021 (Klopper, 2019). This paper will discuss the growing maritime threats that have been brought about by advances in technology as well as the potential countermeasures to protect ports and ships from involuntarily participating in a WMD terrorist attack.

Growing Maritime Threats Brought about by Advances in Technology

Growing maritime threats that have come about as a result of technological advances include the ability of hackers to penetrate computer systems from thousands of miles away and that ability of spoofers to spoof GPS signals and thus reroute ships and potentially crash them. Two incidents in recent memory have already occurred showing that both of these threats are real. The first is the Norsk Hydro Aluminium Smelter attack and the second is the February 2019, the Port of New York incident the US Coast Guard announced that a “deep draft vessel on an international voyage bound for the Port of New York and New Jersey reported that it was experiencing a significant cyber incident impacting its shipboard network” (U.S. Coast Guard, 2019). The malware attack experienced by the vessel caused it to lose important cybersecurity measures, meaning it became vulnerable to additional attacks. Malware similarly affected the Norsk Hydro Smelter. The Norsk Hydro Aluminum Smelter attack caused operations to halt as the plant battled to regain control of...…Today’s drones are flown from hundreds of miles away. If ships can be navigated by safe systems that are resistant to penetration, it would help to prevent takeovers of ships and protect ports.

Finally, the Container Security Initiative (CSI) is important to maintain, as it ensures that every container is inspected by maritime security forces prior to loading and shipping. This could prevent the kind of situation in which a ship is hacked and a container detonated by remote.

Conclusion

Maritime security is a serious issue that needs to be addressed so as to reduce the risk of injury to people on board on at ports. The best ways to improve security are often the simplest—improving end user knowledge, improving network safety fundamentals, and improving container inspection.