Cyber-Attacks New Threats for Maritime Sector
Inadequate protection against cyber risks is becoming a major threat to the maritime sector, increasingly interconnected and dependent from automation. Ports and ships have become target of hackers. Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) says that cyber risks a growing concern in shipping sector, particularly around e-navigation. The IT risk is now beginning in this area, but soon ports and ships could become attractive targets for hackers, says Captain Rahul Khanna, Global Head of Alliance Marine Risk Consulting (AGCS). Companies must simulate these potential scenarios and identify the correct strategies of risk mitigation, says Khanna. Dr. Other scenarios can see cybercriminals affecting important ports, close the terminal or interfere with container or confidential data.
The Bigger the Ship, the Riskier
Container ship safety is under the spotlight with ever-increasing ship sizes, as evidenced by the January 2015 inauguration of the world’s largest container ship, the MSC Oscar (19,224 teu). The length of four football pitches, it can carry 19,000 containers. Yet ships as large as 22,000 teu are expected to be in service soon. Experts in this field say that losing bigger ships could cost $1bn each. Dr. Sven Gerhard, Global Product Leader Hull & Marine Liabilities of Alliance Marine Risk Consulting, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) says: “Larger ships can also mean larger losses. Maximum exposure would not necessarily be limited to vessel and cargo value but could also include environmental or business interruption backlash.
