Maritime Reporter and Engineering News’ Post

The US is dangerously reliant on Chinese cranes in seaports, and the equipment represents a potential threat to US port infrastructure security, the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and House Committee on Homeland Security say. #ICSsecurity #OTsecurity #CriticalInfrastructure 

NATO Undersea Security Boost: Norway and Germany Unveil Critical Infrastructure Hubs Proposal Norway and Germany have taken a significant step towards enhancing NATO's undersea security by signing a proposal for Critical Undersea Infrastructure (CUI) Hubs. This initiative aims to bolster awareness and response capabilities regarding underwater activities that may threaten Europe's critical systems. The proposal, signed by Norway's Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, calls for the creation of CUI Hubs in five significant maritime areas: the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea. These hubs will enhance surveillance and oversight of underwater infrastructure, utilizing regional expertise to monitor suspicious behavior and proactively mitigate potential threats. Key Objectives of the CUI Hubs: - Enhanced Surveillance: Monitor underwater infrastructure and detect potential threats - Improved Response: Enable national authorities to deploy personnel and resources to mitigate threats - Regional Expertise: Leverage local knowledge to optimize surveillance and response capabilities Norway has offered to lead the establishment of a CUI Hub in the High North, while Germany will manage the hub in the Baltic Sea. This collaborative effort underscores the urgency felt by NATO allies in light of recent geopolitical tensions. The signing of this proposal is a timely response to concerns about the security of Europe's underwater infrastructure, particularly following the war in Ukraine and suspicious activities involving Russian ships in the North Sea. Source: https://lnkd.in/dx58Rw_h For comprehensive maritime data, check www.shipsdnaportal.com and follow us ShipsDNA Portal for more maritime news. #ShipsDNA #MaritimeNews #Norway #Ukraine #Germany #Russia #UK #NATO #NorthSea #CUI

You would be surprised how often ship's anchors damage undersea cables. Two fiber-optic cables, one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania, stopped working between Sunday and Monday. This incident brings to mind previous security issues in the busy waterway, which has been impacted by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius suggested the incident might be a ‘hybrid’ action, potentially sabotage, although the exact cause is still unknown. NATO members in the region are jointly assessing the situation, with naval forces increasing their patrols. Lithuania's Prosecutor General's Office is gathering information to decide if a formal investigation should be launched, and Swedish authorities are also compiling data on the incident. A spokesperson for Aerlion, the owner and operator of the cable linking Lithuania and Sweden confirmed that it was full damage. Cinia, which owns the cable connecting Finland and Germany, mentioned that the cause of the breach remains unknown until repairs commence Repairs could take between 5-15 days. Danish authorities suspect the Chinese bulker Yi Peng 3 for the recent cable damage. The vessel was tracked in the vicinity during the failure and has been seen drifting in the Kattegat shipping lane. The Danish Navy is now escorting Yi Peng 3 and monitoring its movements closely. AIS data and webcams confirm several Danish patrol vessels following the ship, and a Danish pilot was reportedly placed onboard as it passed through the Danish Straits. This incident is reminiscent of the Australian Federal Police charging the Master of the container ship Maersk Surabaya back in 2021. The ship allegedly damaged the Australia Singapore Cable off the West Australian coast, causing approximately $1.5 million in damage. The vessel’s anchor had dragged through a protected submarine cable zone during high winds. Foreign ministers of Germany and Finland expressed concern, highlighting the volatility of current times and the importance of safeguarding critical infrastructure. A thorough investigation is underway to address this ongoing security challenge. Read more about the incident here - https://lnkd.in/gcS7bAMn

Securing digital assets in transition in #Submarine #cyber #cables is an (inter)national security priority, especially from the #legal standpoint. As the world depends on cyber submarine cables for more than 95 percent of its international Internet #DATA, the norms and procedures to affirm a #shipping company responsibility in cutting or damaging - intentionally or unintentionally- cables are crucial also to solve legally related #disputes. #EU member states also asked the EU #Commission to consider a legal proposal on #safety of subsea cables. In September 2024 the #US government delivered at the UN 🇺🇳 General Assembly “The New York Joint Statement on the Security and #Resilience of Undersea Cables in a Globally Digitalized World”. One of the principles enshrined in it deals with the need to: #Design undersea cable infrastructure and services with resilience, redundancy, and security in mind. Build and maintain this infrastructure #incorporating #cybersecurity best practices that safely facilitate international communication. The cut of 2 cyber seabed cables in the #Baltic Sea , on 17 November 2024, damaging the data communications of #Germany, #Finland, #Sweden, #Denmark, #Norway and #Lithuania, sheds light on -the danger of sabotage,eventually sponsored by third states -and its wider implications for the #Telco and national security. A #Chinese-Registered Ship - presumably arriving from a #Russian port- is allegedly responsible for the Baltic Sea Sabotage. Investigations are being conducted by States and by #NATO that is elaborating its strategy to respond to #critical infrastructures attacks. From the international legal standpoint, the protection of submarine cables is based on the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (1982) (UNCLOS); but this Convention is not exhaustive. Some important #rules and #procedures are enshrined in old international treaties, such as the 1884 International Convention for Protection of Submarine Cables (Cable Convention), ratified only by 41 States. Therefore some 1884 Cable Convention’s norms should be included in the UNCLOS, such as Article 10 that deals with the vital task of obtaining #evidence of #violations for the #civil and #criminal penalties. Alternatively, the #UN could invites States to ratify the Cable Convention. Nevertheless, in this context, also #cyber #diplomacy is essential because targeting global communications infrastructure may be part of "#hybrid #warfare".

Accidents happen in the subsea cable world all the time, but this is starting to feel like a probe, or test, to see how certain parties react. The world's communications networks rely on subsea cables, and knocking just a few out could have catastrophic effects. If you can direct and steer this chaos, and have backups for your own communications, those effects could be crucial for all sorts of national security purposes. War, prep for invasion, diversion, distraction, intimidation. This story may grow. And the fact that this is happening during a changeover in political parties in charge in the US should raise some red flags. https://lnkd.in/gHK44Q7R

Maritime Security Bulletin and Advisory Re: Oil Pipeline Accident in South Pass, Louisiana((1) Contractor Dead) Issued by: Sanborn Analytics   Date: August 19th, 2024   Contact: outreach@sanbornanalytics.us | Phone: +1 (617) 539-6114   Media Credit: WDSU News (see link) --- Sanborn Analytics issues this maritime security bulletin and advisory to inform the maritime shipping community and the armed naval forces at sea of a recent and significant incident involving a natural gas pipeline in Louisiana. Incident Overview: As of August 17th, 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard is actively investigating a fatal blast at a natural gas pipeline near South Pass, Louisiana. The incident occurred late Saturday, resulting in an explosion and subsequent fire. A contractor working on the pipeline was reported missing after the explosion, and tragically, the individual's body was discovered by local police at approximately 10 a.m. local time on Sunday. Pipeline Details: The pipeline in question is owned by Whitney Oil & Gas, a privately held company. At this time, Whitney Oil & Gas has not provided a comment on the incident. Current Status: The fire resulting from the explosion has been extinguished, and the cause of the blast is currently under investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard. No other injuries have been reported in connection with this incident, as confirmed by a social media post from the Louisiana State Police. Advisory: - Maritime and Naval Operations: Vessels operating near the South Pass area should exercise caution and maintain communication with the U.S. Coast Guard for any updates or directives.    - Security Measures: Increased vigilance is advised for all maritime operations in the vicinity, as the investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing. - Emergency Response Coordination: Maritime organizations are encouraged to review their emergency response plans and ensure readiness for potential maritime incidents related to energy infrastructure. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. --- #maritimesecurity #louisiana #southpass #usgc #homelandsecurity #uscoastguard #texas https://lnkd.in/eM5jwyTa

Chinese vessel allegedly dragging its anchor and severing undersea cable links, cutting off internet access for tens of thousands of people in Vietnam. This incident highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure beneath our oceans and raises concerns over intentional or reckless acts that can destabilize entire regions. Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) isn't just a concept, it's a strategic necessity. If our communications infrastructure is this exposed, how do we adapt? How can we leverage advancements in maritime technology to ensure such vulnerabilities are mitigated? https://lnkd.in/eReRf2vz

Day 95 of the Red Sea crisis. This week the IMO is having their 81st MEPC meeting. MEPC is the Marine Environment Protection Committee. As part of the opening the IMO’s Secretary General said that salvage operations in the Red Sea are unlikely due to the ongoing hostilities. Presently the lack of salvage opportunity relates to the sunken “Rubymar” and the “True Confidence” which remains abandoned and adrift. The US Maritime Administration has issued an new updated advisory outlining the most pressing threats to US flagged as well as US affiliated vessels (see link for full advisory). They mention 47 seperate attacks as well as one seizure of a vessel during the crisis. US affiliated vessels are strongly advised to turn of AIS in the region. The advisory also warns of the risk of boarding or seizure of commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea. In addition they mention the risk of piracy with 3 incidents seen since November 2023 which are the first cases since 2017. This applies to commercial vessels operating in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Somali Basin, and Indian Ocean. In relation to attack drones they warn that these can be a threat not only in the Bab al-Mandeb, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden but also in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea citing examples of this seen in both November and December 2023. HMM reports heavy congestion in the port of Tangiers. The state the following:” TC3 terminal is heavly congested. Main liner vessels can wait up to 4 days due to adverse weather condition mainly and berth congestion caused by late arrivals from northern Europe of vessels that came around the Cape Of Good Hope. Feeder vessel need to wait more than 7days to berth.“

Turns out there are suspicious items in critical infrastructure. https://lnkd.in/dPX56QM7 #threat #intelligence #threatintelligence #usa #china #geopolitics #crane

🚨 AIS Spoofing on the Rise: How Do You Stay Ahead of Sophisticated Tactics? 🚨 As AIS spoofing incidents become more advanced, it’s clear that better detection technology and stronger regulations are crucial. Bad actors are using new techniques to manipulate AIS data - making vessels appear inactive or in the wrong location while engaging in illicit activities. 🔍 Research by Pole Star Global and Blackstone Compliance Services has uncovered four main spoofing types: 1) Long-term Anchor Spoofing 2) Circle Spoofing 3) Slow Roll Spoofing 4) Pre-Programmed Route Spoofing To learn more about each, check out Pole Star’s latest guide: AIS Spoofing Research Unveils 4 Main Typologies [https://lnkd.in/e2g2H7nN] 📎 With these new threats in mind, PurpleTRAC is now equipped with advanced ship movement history checks through the new Positional Discrepancy feature, which includes: ✅ Detailed Event Information: Access start/stop dates, exact positions, and zones of detected spoofing events. ✅ Severity Alerts: Get instant alerts on spoofing attempts, customised to your preferences. ✅ Interactive Mapping: Analyse positional discrepancies in-depth with the Maritime Domain Awareness tool. Stay proactive, detect threats early, and combat illicit activities like AIS spoofing with PurpleTRAC’s cutting-edge technology. 🌐 Ready to get started? Get in touch today 👉🏻 sales@polestarglobal.com #MaritimeSecurity #AISspoofing #SupplyChainSecurity #PurpleTRAC #MaritimeTech #ShipTracking