According to recent analysis by Willis Group of 49 maritime transport companies\u2019 2014 annual reports, just 22% identified cybercrime as a potential risk.<\/p>\n
This is a huge mistake. Shipping has yet to grasp the severity that cybercrime poses.<\/p>\n
To give you an idea of the scale of the scourge, the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) published a recent report in which it estimated online crime now equates to 0.8% of global GDP, similar to the provisions that macro-economists make for the annual cost of standard business crimes.<\/p>\n
At October\u2019s Danish Maritime Forum cyber risks were discussed in a breakout session on maritime security. Part of the problem with defeating cybercrime is that companies are unwilling to share their problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the cyber side this industry is not just an unlocked door, it is leaving it wide open,\u201d commented a Danish national who runs a counter cybercrime firm.<\/p>\n
The head of an African nation\u2019s maritime authority called for the International Maritime Organization to come up with some form of cyber security information sharing regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrust and information sharing will never happen between companies because they are competitors,\u201d stressed the head of a leading Middle Eastern chemical tanker company. His solution was to get the various shipping associations to handle this, a view many attending the debate agreed on. Another shipowner suggested it was up to flag states to take the lead.<\/p>\n
Just about all present were in agreement that the best way to fight cybercrime was together \u2013 an illustrator on hand picturing it as an umbrella to fight the crime storm.<\/p>\n