For technical superintendents, the challenges used to be mostly mechanical—today, they’re also digital.
Cyber-attacks on ships are no longer theoretical. According to recent data, 239 maritime cyber incidents were recorded in 2024, ranging from GPS jamming and spoofing to full system takeovers of ballast and engine controls. This isn’t just about tankers off conflict zones. These threats are now industry-wide—and growing.
A recent Guardian feature profiled the Nordic Maritime Cyber Resilience Centre in Gothenburg, where shipping lines, military officers and IT specialists now coordinate to counteract these invisible threats. One major insight? Many attacks come from nation-state actors or criminal networks, and often target vessels during port entry, when systems are at their most exposed.
For superintendents, the response can’t just sit with IT. Ballast automation, bridge systems, and engine room comms are all part of the threat landscape. That means closer collaboration between onboard engineers, shoreside tech teams, and OEMs is critical—and overdue.
At World Chandlering, we’re seeing more customers request cyber-certified equipment, redundant systems, and faster access to replacement parts in the event of a digital lockdown.
And if GPS fails? One Swedish shipmaster interviewed said they revert to radar and manual dead reckoning—because in today’s world, seamanship might just be your backup plan.
Cyber risks aren’t coming. They’re already here. And for technical teams, awareness is the first line of defence.
