Researchers led by Dr Stephen McCombie, Professor of Maritime IT Security at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences have recently announced the launch of the Maritime Cyber Attack Database (MCAD), which is a database of incidents involving the worldwide maritime sector.

As per the official release on the varsity's website, the database contains over 160 incidents, including the location spoofing of NATO ships visiting Ukraine in the Black Sea in 2021. The incidents in the database demonstrate the relevance of cyber security across the board of today’s maritime industry and the vulnerabilities that exist.

Dr. Stephen McCombie said, “The simulated attack in Ukraine was all about provoking a reaction and so-called ‘deploying disruptive power.’ The scope of what is possible today is surprising, so we need to educate governments and companies about these kinds of cyber-attacks and help them understand not only how to react to them, but how to be prepared for them.”

The database not only covers incidents impacting vessels but also ports and other maritime facilities worldwide. Now available publicly online, the research group expects the database will help improve cyber security awareness in the sector and provide data for further research and more accurate simulations in this critical area.

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