Security – Professional Mariner

06 Oct

MarAd advisory: Foreign tech threats and cyber influence

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Ports, Security

(WASHINGTON) — This advisory from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) continues to alert maritime stakeholders of potential vulnerabilities to maritime port equipment, networks, operating systems, software and infrastructure. Foreign companies manufacture, install and maintain port equipment that creates vulnerabilities to global maritime infrastructure information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems. In the past few years, the U.S. government has…

26 Sep

Polar Star returns home after service life extension

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, Security, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — After 308 days away from its Seattle home port, the 49-year-old U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) and crew returned home Tuesday. Upon completing Operation Deep Freeze (ODF) 2025, Polar Star returned directly to Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo, Calif., to complete the final year of a five-year Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). Polar Star's…

16 Jun

MarAd alert: Potential threat to shipping near Iran

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Maritime alerts, safety, Security, shipping

Threat type: Potential retaliatory strikes by Iranian forces Geographic area: Strait of Hormuz, Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea (WASHINGTON) — At approximately 0100 UTC on June 13, Israel commenced military strikes against targets in Iran. Due to the now heightened tensions in this region, U.S.-flagged commercial vessels operating throughout this region are strongly encouraged to maintain close…

12 Feb

GAO finds gaps in Coast Guard’s cybersecurity strategy

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsCyberthreats, Security, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — Owners and operators of U.S. maritime facilities and vessels rely on systems that are connected to internal and external networks – including the internet. These facilities and vessels face heightened cybersecurity risks from certain nations and transnational criminal organizations. The U.S. Coast Guard provides guidance for and inspects facilities and vessels that are subject to cybersecurity-related requirements. But…

17 Jan

Final rule details Coast Guard cybersecurity requirements

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsCyberthreats, Security, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday published a final rule in the Federal Register concerning cybersecurity in the nation's marine transportation system. Here is a summary of the document: The maritime industry faces increasing cybersecurity threats as it increasingly relies on cyberconnected systems. The purpose of this final rule is to safeguard the marine transportation system (MTS) against…

15 Jan

Piracy down in 2024, but more mariners taken hostage

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsSecurity, shipping

(LONDON) — The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) annual Piracy and Armed Robbery Report recorded 116 incidents against ships in 2024 compared to 120 in 2023 and 115 in 2022. It reveals that 94 vessels were boarded, 13 were subject to attempted attacks, six vessels were hijacked and three fired upon. While the number of reported incidents in 2024 remains similar…

11 Oct

MarAd advisory: Global disruptions to maritime GPS, AIS

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Security, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — GPS disruption affects maritime navigation in various parts of the world. Mariners are encouraged to take the following precautions: • Develop plans for responding to GPS disruptions that affect safe navigation of vessels prior to getting underway. • When a GPS outage occurs, incidents should be reported as soon as safely possible to the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation…

09 Oct

MarAd advisory: Threats to IT systems, automated cranes

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Ports, Security, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — This advisory from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) seeks to alert maritime stakeholders of potential vulnerabilities to maritime port equipment, networks, operating systems, software and infrastructure. Foreign companies manufacture, install and maintain port equipment that creates vulnerabilities to global maritime infrastructure information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems. In the past few years, the U.S. government has…

19 Sep

Newly issued MMCs include verification scan code

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingSecurity, U.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — On Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard began issuing merchant mariner credentials (MMCs) with an embedded credential verification scan quick-response (QR) code. The QR code, located in the upper-right corner of each MMC photograph/personnel page, can be scanned using a smartphone camera. The unique code, when scanned, will open the Coast Guard’s Homeport credential verification page of the…

09 Sep

MarAd advisory: Combat threat in Black Sea, Sea of Azov

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Security, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in late February 2022, commercial vessels have reportedly been struck by projectiles and experienced explosions in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. There have also been reports of moored and drifting naval mines. While some past actions may have targeted specific commercial vessels due to their association with certain countries…