Cyber security at sea – the risks and consequences

David Thompson, of the UK P&I Club’s Signum Services, discusses the risks around cyber security and maritime payment diversion fraud


There is, rightly, much concern in the maritime world about the possibility of criminals or terrorists using a virtual attack through cyberspace to seize control of a vessel and either steal it, hold it for ransom or even use it as a weapon of deadly intent. No doubt such threats will become ever more compelling but the biggest task at present is how to combat the huge increase in internet-enabled fraud.