Overview
- A Coast Guard-led team that included FBI cyber specialists boarded an inbound foreign-flagged tanker on Aug. 21 and a second on Aug. 24 to examine and secure their operational technology and information networks.
- The agencies said threats were mitigated and there were no reported operational disruptions, crew injuries, vessel instability, or environmental impacts following the boardings.
- One vessel reportedly lost communications for more than 30 hours after transiting the Strait of Gibraltar and officials say one ship was carrying oil while the other carried liquefied natural gas.
- U.S. authorities have not publicly attributed the intrusions and are investigating possible involvement by Iran or other actors even though Iranian state media named a vessel that U.S. agencies have not confirmed.
- Federal agencies are now tracking cyber threats to nearly 20 ships worldwide and have asked for advance notice of U.S. port calls as officials warn that aging ship OT and connected IT systems make tankers vulnerable to hacks that could disrupt ports and energy supply chains.