Page 16: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Jul/Aug 2017)

15 17

MARITIME SECURITY

Today’s Maritime Security:

Prepared for a Clear and Present Danger?

By Jim Romeo n late June of 2017, AP Moeller-Maersk shut down its con- seaports. E. Anthony Incorvati is the Business Development tainer operations at the Port of Los Angeles. It wasn’t due to Manager, Transportation for Axis Communications who pro-

Ilabor relations problems, equipment malfunction or other vides network video as security for many commercial facili- reasons that have been known to thwart port operations. It ties. He says cyber security is a major concern for maritime was a cyber-attack. and port security today and has been a top priority for the

In today’s climate of information technology, there’s no American Association of Port Authorities Security Council telling where hackers lurk or a cyber security compromises and many Port Authorities and federal agencies for some time. may occur. For the maritime industry and its extended supply “Ports are the economic engines of this country and the chains, the threat is real and looming. world, meaning any downtime caused by a breach could have “At the local Maersk facility in LA, terminal personnel had a catastrophic impact on global supply chains,” says Icorvati. to return to the days of paper and pen to keep cargo moving,” “While not always thought of as an early tech adopter, many says Jill Taylor, Homeland Security Manager with the Port of ports have embraced the internet of things (IoT). While com-

Los Angeles in San Pedro, CA. “Thankfully, they were able to munications and information technologies are benefcial for recover rather quickly, but there was still a worldwide impact. operations, they also open ports up to being more vulnerable

If it can happen to Maersk, it can happen to anyone.” to cyber-attacks than ever before. Any connected network de-

This is not the frst alert to the cyber security risk posed for vice being utilized, whether it is for operational effciency or

Image credit: Port of Los Angeles 16 Maritime Logistics Professional July/August 2017 | |