U.S. Investigates Chinese Cranes for Espionage, Company Denies Risk

A congressional probe into unauthorized devices on Chinese-made cranes at U.S. ports raises espionage concerns; manufacturer asserts compliance with global standards.

A congressional investigation into Chinese-built ship-to-shore cargo cranes at U.S. seaports has raised concerns over potential espionage, with the discovery of unauthorized communication devices.
Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), the Chinese crane manufacturing company at the center of the probe, denies posing any cybersecurity risk to U.S. ports, asserting compliance with international standards and regulations.
The Biden administration has responded by signing an executive order to allocate $20 billion for the production of seaport cranes in the U.S., aiming to reduce dependency on foreign manufacturing.
The U.S. Coast Guard is set to increase inspections of cranes and intervene in cases of suspected malicious cyber activity, as part of efforts to bolster maritime cybersecurity.
Despite the allegations, the American Association of Port Authorities has found no known security breaches from Chinese-made cranes at U.S. ports, calling recent reports 'alarmist'.