The global shipping industry is confronting a growing cyber threat that has been developing quietly rather than through large, headline-making events. Instead of single major ransomware attacks or system-wide outages. Many disruptions begin with small, localised incidents that affect a single port terminal, a regional logistics operator, or a carrier’s internal scheduling system. These events may delay only a few thousand containers at a time, however the cumulative effect is beginning to strain global port capacity and the wider supply chain in ways that could soon reach critical levels.
Modern maritime logistics depend heavily on digital systems. Terminal operating software, electronic bills of lading, cloud-based vessel tracking and automated customs processes form the foundation of port operations worldwide. If even one of these systems experiences a brief interruption, the consequences have a systemic effect. Minor outages can lead to delayed vessel departures, increased yard congestion and growing container backlogs. These delays often spread far beyond the site of the original disruption, affect shipping schedules, cargo availability and downstream supply chains.
The cumulative effect of these scattered incidents is no longer theoretical. Case studies ranging from the 2017 Maersk NotPetya attack to the 2025 Oceanic Freight system compromise show that each event caused substantial container delays across multiple regions. When similar incidents are aggregated over weeks and months, the overall impact becomes significant. Risk modeling[1] suggests that a cyber-related slowdown affecting only a few Tier 1 ports could remove 10 to 15 percent of global container-handling capacity. Such a reduction would have economic consequences similar to the interruption caused by the Suez Canal blockage.
The risk is intensified by the high concentration of global maritime trade. Approximately 80 percent of global container traffic flows through fewer than 100 ports, and a small number of shipping alliances manage most long-haul cargo. With many operators relying on the same software vendors, cloud platforms and logistics systems, a single cyber incident has the potential to disrupt multiple ports and carriers at once. This creates a form of systemic exposure that magnifies the impact of relatively small events.
For insurers, regulators and port authorities, the implications are clear. Cyber resilience must be treated as a core operational priority rather than a narrow technical issue. Investments in redundant systems, strong backup protocols, network segmentation and transparent incident reporting will play a critical role in preventing small disruptions from escalating into large-scale bottlenecks.
While major cyber attacks will continue to capture public attention, the real threat to maritime supply chains may lie in the steady accumulation of minor incidents. If left unaddressed, these micro-disruptions could eventually push routine congestion into a global logistics crisis.
- By: Gabriel A. Weaver, Brett Feddersen, Lavanya Marla, Dan Wei, Adam Rose and Mark Van Moer[2]. Estimating economic losses from cyber-attacks on shipping ports: An optimization – based approach. https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10410164
