LNG Tanker Changes Course After Suspected Cyberattack

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, Vivit Africa LNG, was sailing through the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas towards Italy when its crew experienced a systems failure. The issue occurred in early September, according to a Bloomberg report. The crew reported that they lost access to some internal control systems, which they suspected was due to a cyberattack.

The tanker had sailed from Louisiana's Cameron LNG terminal and was nearing its destination in Europe. After stopping off the coast of Italy without unloading its cargo, the vessel began sailing away from its intended destination of Rovigo and headed back towards the Spanish port of Algeciras. The Italian Coast Guard assisted the vessel, but the cause of the problem could not be identified.

The incident is one of several suspected cyberattacks on ships in recent months. In late August, two oil and gas tankers off the US coast were boarded by the Coast Guard and Federal Bureau of Investigation due to potential cyberattacks. American officials are monitoring nearly 20 ships around the world for such threats.