US announces initiative to bolster cybersecurity of ports

It also announced its intent to bring domestic onshore manufacturing capacity back to America to provide safe, secure cranes to US ports—thanks to an over $20-billion investment in US port infrastructure under President Joe Biden’s ‘Investing in America Agenda’.

The executive order bolsters the department of homeland security’s authority to directly address maritime cyber threats, including through cybersecurity standards to ensure that US ports’ networks and systems are secure.

The US Coast Guard will have the express authority to respond to malicious cyber activity in the nation’s maritime transportation system (MTS) by requiring vessels and waterfront facilities to mitigate cyber conditions that may endanger the safety of a vessel, facility or harbour.

The order will also institute mandatory reporting of cyber incidents—or active cyber threats—endangering any vessel, harbour, port or waterfront facility.

Additionally, the Coast Guard will now have the authority to control the movement of vessels that present a known or suspected cyber threat to US maritime infrastructure, and inspect those vessels and facilities that pose a threat to cybersecurity.

The Coast Guard will issue a maritime security directive on cyber risk management actions for ship-to-shore cranes manufactured by China located at US commercial strategic seaports, a White House press release said.

The Paceco Corp, a US-based subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsui E&S, is planning to onshore US manufacturing capacity for its crane production. Paceco intends to partner with other trusted manufacturing companies to bring port crane manufacturing capabilities back to the US for the first time in 30 years, pending final site and partner selection.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)