Hackers breached propulsion system of U.S.-bound oil tanker

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Every mariner should be extremely concerned'Author of the article:Jake Bleiberg and Ruth LiaoThe prospect of unknown hackers potentially being able to remotely control the operational system of such a tanker has alarmed U.S. military and intelligence officials. Photo by Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty ImagesFBI and United States Coast Guard investigators have found evidence that hackers accessed the propulsion system of an oil supertanker as it was approaching the Texas coast this summer, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter, an extraordinary breach that highlights the growing physical risks from cyberattacks.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountThe cyberattack resulted in outsiders gaining temporary access to the digital system on the ship, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter. Officials are still examining how the breach occurred and who was responsible. It wasn’t immediately clear how long the hackers had access and what they could’ve controlled aboard the ship with it.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.The breach of the tanker’s propulsion system, a rare and particularly invasive hack into a ship’s operations, underscores the urgency that led U.S. authorities to board the VL Prosperity in August. The carrier — which is longer than the Chrysler Building is tall and as wide as an American football field — was fully-laden and bound for Galveston.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe Coast Guard declined to comment. The FBI declined to answer questions beyond providing a statement the two agencies previously released about their joint boarding of the VL Prosperity and another ship “to ensure integrity of the vessel’s operational and information technology systems following indications that the networks of both vessels were compromised.”“Currently, there are no reports of operational disruptions, vessel instability, physical danger to crews, or environmental impacts,” the FBI said in the emailed statement.The prospect of unknown hackers potentially being able to remotely control the operational system of such a tanker, known as a Very Large Crude Carrier, has alarmed U.S. military and intelligence officials. It highlights warnings about cyberattacks targeting the maritime sector, which have escalated in recent years with shipping vessels becoming increasingly dependent on network-linked systems for navigation, communications and other operations.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Alex Soukhanov, whose firm True North Group works on maritime cybersecurity, said confirmed hacks of ships’ systems are rare but can have a huge impact.“These are the largest moving objects in the world transporting the world’s economy,” said Soukhanov, who is a licensed ship captain. “We just can’t have this type of unauthorized access. Every mariner should be extremely concerned.”In late August, a joint team of Coast Guard and FBI personnel boarded the VL Prosperity after it lost communications and authorities got indications that its network had been compromised by hackers, Bloomberg News previously reported. That month, the agencies also boarded another vessel in the Gulf of Mexico due to a suspected cyber threat.By September, U.S. government agencies were tracking cyber threats against nearly 20 shipping vessels around the world, and the Coast Guard has asked for advance notice if any of those ships planned to come into a U.S. port, Bloomberg previously reported.It would be the “worst case scenario” for a large vessel carrying hazardous material to lose some of its functions in a cyber attack, said Svante Einarsson, head of cyber security at ship technical advisory firm DNV. But, Einarsson added, most vessels have the ability to fall back on other systems that allow crews to to continue operations.The Prosperity remains anchored offshore Galveston, according to shipping data compiled by Bloomberg.—With assistance from Myles Miller and Lucia Kassai.This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.