"Cyberattacks Threaten International Sea Traffic, Ports and Offshore Installations"

Saiful Karim, associate professor and maritime security law expert at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), examined the threats to maritime cybersecurity in a study published in Marine Policy and recommended using a specific, international, and enforceable legal regime to address these threats. Cyberattacks are a threat to ports, ships, the maritime supply chain, and major offshore infrastructure, including oil and gas installations. According to Dr. Karim, the international maritime industry relies on cyber systems for all aspects of operation and management and could be targeted in cyberattacks launched by activists, terrorists, and transnational cybercriminals. Cybercrime and cyberterrorism both pose complex international legal issues in terms of prevention and prosecution. Dr. Karim pointed out that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was the primary global forum for regulatory development aimed at ensuring maritime cybersecurity, and it played an important role in the development of fit-for-purpose international law to combat maritime cybercrime and cyberterrorism. However, despite adopting non-legally binding guidelines and a quasi-legally binding resolution on cybersecurity, he claims the IMO falls short of developing specific and binding cybersecurity regulations. Some provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention), the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA Convention), the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention), and related codes and protocols are relevant for ensuring ship, port, and offshore infrastructure cybersecurity, but none of the IMO conventions address cybersecurity in depth. Therefore, Dr. Karim calls for legal reform because the legal response is far slower than the rate of technological innovation, use, and abuse. This article continues to discuss the increase in cyberattacks on the maritime industry, shortcomings of the current international legal framework, and the need for comprehensive international maritime cybersecurity laws.

QUT reports "Cyberattacks Threaten International Sea Traffic, Ports and Offshore Installations"