Cyber threats to shipping explained

The report analyzes maritime cybersecurity risks in modern vessels, explaining how network-connected control systems like PMS, IAMCS, DP, and SMCS could be disrupted to trigger blackouts and degrade propulsion and steering, especially due to poor segmentation and remote access gateways. While full remote control of a ship is deemed unlikely and manual overrides exist, recovery can be slow and complex—particularly during critical maneuvers—making coordinated attacks capable of aligning multiple failures plausible. It contrasts container ships with cruise and DP vessels, noting greater redundancy yet higher complexity and shared networks, and highlights gaps in crew training and regulations that largely ignore active cyber attackers.