SPECIAL REPORT Ӏ TECHNOLOGY THREATS CYBERSECURITY CRANE


Ship-to-shore cranes are vulnerable to cyberattacks. US authorities are worried. Other cranes also need cybersecurity. Julian Champkin reports.


It is not often that a President of the United States devotes his personal attention, and his personal legislative powers, exclusively to cranes. It happened this spring; and it was done to try and protect against what was perceived to be a real and present danger to the nation. On February 21st 2024 the Biden-


Harris Administration issued an Executive Order to bolster the security of the nation’s ports. Specifically, it was to make more secure the ship-to-


shore cranes that unload cargoes from abroad and send them on their way to manufacturers and consumers all over the United States. The pandemic gave us a brief flavour of what happens when a nation’s port facilities halt or just slow down. The Executive Order was designed to safeguard against a much more serious breakdown. In the words of the White House


order, ‘America’s prosperity is directly linked to maritime trade and the


integrated network of ports, terminals, vessels, waterways, and land-side connections that constitute the Nation’s Marine Transportation System. This complex system supports $5.4 trillion worth of economic activity each year, contributes to the employment of more than 31 million Americans, and supports nearly 95% of cargo entering the US.’ And a cyberattack could bring it grinding to a halt. Ship-to-shore cranes are automated. They are controlled digitally, by


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