U.S. Coast Guard and FBI teams boarded two foreign-flagged commercial vessels bound for the United States last month after detecting compromised onboard computer networks. The joint operations, carried out in the Gulf of Mexico, follow a wave of cyber incidents affecting maritime transport amid ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran.
Security experts confirmed one targeted vessel was the Liberian-flagged tanker VL Prosperity, which reportedly suffered severe system disruptions while passing through the Strait of Gibraltar. Hackers disabled communications and infiltrated critical engine-room controls, prompting maritime security firms to warn that similar ship-centered cyberattacks are likely to increase.
