US Authorities Investigate Cyberattacks on Oil Tankers Bound for Nation
The Coast Guard and FBI are probing incidents where two vessels were compromised last month.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the FBI are investigating suspected cyberattacks that affected two oil tankers en route to the United States last month, according to sources. Both agencies confirmed that measures were taken to ensure the integrity of the vessels' systems following indications of compromise by foreign cyber actors.
On August 21, a foreign-flagged commercial vessel in the Gulf of Mexico was boarded by a specialized team comprising U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement officers, cyber protection members, and an FBI cyber team. The vessel had lost communication for over 30 hours after being targeted in the Strait of Gibraltar. Authorities stated that the crew members cooperated and were instrumental in mitigating the threats.
A second tanker experienced a similar cyberattack and was boarded by U.S. officials on August 24 for an assessment. Investigators are examining the possibility that Iran or another actor, potentially seeking to exploit the ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S., could be behind these attacks.
Despite the cyber incidents, authorities reported no operational disruptions, vessel instability, physical danger to crews, or environmental impacts.