FBI, Coast Guard Board Two Tankers in Gulf Over Suspected Cyber Breaches
US authorities boarded two US-bound oil tankers in the Gulf of Mexico after indications their networks had been compromised by cyberattacks.
Federal investigators and the US Coast Guard boarded two foreign-flagged oil tankers in the Gulf of Mexico after signs emerged that the vessels' networks had been compromised by cyberattacks, officials said Wednesday.
The two ships were bound for the United States when the reported breaches came to light. According to a joint statement from the FBI and the Coast Guard, authorities responded to the incidents on August 21 and August 24, dispatching a multiagency team of cyber experts to inspect both vessels.
The team's task was to assess any potential harm to the ships' operational and information technology systems. The statement said the crews of both tankers cooperated with investigators.
Officials added that there were no reports of operational disruptions, vessel instability, physical danger to crew members, or environmental impacts stemming from the suspected intrusions.
The statement did not identify any party believed to be responsible for the breaches. The investigation is ongoing.