Assessing Cyber Challenges of Maritime Navigation

Andrej Androjna,Ivica Pavic,Tanja Brcko,Harm Greidanus

doi:10.3390/jmse8100776

Andrej Androjna, Ivica Pavic + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8100776

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Abstract

This paper provides a close investigation into the landscape of both cyber threats and actual incidents in the maritime sector, identifying the cyber trends and challenges as they relate to safe navigation and marine shipping. As an important subset of cyber threats that impact many maritime systems, the vulnerabilities of satellite navigation systems, in particular the Global Positioning System (GPS), receive special attention. For this article, a systematic literature review was conducted, complemented by the research and analysis of a specific spoofing event. Analyzing available resources, we might summarize that a shift in mind-set is essential to direct more attention and resources toward cybersecurity as well as the necessity for manufacturers to improve the cybersecurity of their products, as shipping systems currently remain vulnerable to cybercriminals. There is a need for multiple positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems onboard maritime vessels to complement GPS-only navigation. The use of multiple satellite navigation constellations, public as well as private, in combination with the terrestrial components of an enhanced LOng-RAnge Navigation (eLoran) system and ports’ laser-based aid system for berthing and docking should provide the shipping industry with the direly needed increased protection from cyber-attackers for the foreseeable future.

Highlights

Today’s global maritime sector depends increasingly on digitalization, integration of operations, and automation
Despite recent headlines in the media regarding the effects of cyberattacks in the maritime domain, there still seems to be a lack of understanding of cyber incidents on marine navigation systems [6]
The nature of cyber is changing, and today, the maritime sector is experiencing highly sophisticated and complex attacks seeking to take the reins of its industrial control systems that are designed to be closed to the outer world [46]

Summary

Introduction

Today’s global maritime sector depends increasingly on digitalization, integration of operations, and automation. Cyber technologies have become essential, even critical, not just to the operation and management of numerous systems and processes onboard ships and in ports, and for the safety, security, and protection of the ship, the crew, the cargo, and the marine environment. These technologies have integrated IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) onboard ships through networking and connectivity to the internet [1,2,3,4,5,6]. When deliberate disruptions are discovered, there are many incentives to keep that information quiet, mainly because of the maritime industry not being eager to reveal the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of their products or services

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