LNG Tanker Hit by Suspected Cyber-Attack En Route to Italy

A liquefied natural gas tanker, the Vivit Africa LNG, has suffered a systems failure while sailing through the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. The crew reported that they were unable to access some of the internal control systems, suspecting a cyber-attack.

The vessel was on its way to Italy from the US, where it had lifted its cargo in early September. After idling off the coast of Italy without discharging its cargo, the ship began sailing away from its intended destination and headed back toward Spain.

The incident follows other potential cybersecurity incidents on tankers in late August, when two oil and gas tankers were boarded by the Coast Guard and Federal Bureau of Investigation due to suspected cyberattacks. American officials are monitoring nearly 20 ships around the world for such threats.