The Port of Nagoya, Japan’s largest port by cargo throughput, has become the latest victim of a ransomware attack.
The attack happened around 6.30pm on the 4 July when hackers targeted its container operating system.
The port, located in central Japan, said that the Nagoya United Terminal System (NUTS), which controls its five container terminals, had been directly impacted by the attack.
It is currently attempting to resolve the issue and hoped to recover the system by 7 July.
The port has now suspended the loading of containers onto trucks, while ship loading and unloading operations have also been affected.
Nagoya is a key industrial area and its port mainly handles car parts and industrial machinery.
The attack on Nagoya comes after a series of cyber attacks on ports over recent months as hackers have identified the sector as a key logistics target.
In June this year, hackers targeted the port of Rotterdam’s website, while attacks have also been reported at the ports of Amsterdam and Groningen.
Hackers also attacked the Port of Lisbon in December last year.
Beyond ports the Tokyo MOU port state control authority revealed in its annual report it had been the victim of a cyber-attack in 2022.
Classification society DNV was also hit by a cyber attack last year.
A recent study by DNV indicated that more than three-quarters of maritime professionals believe a strategic waterway or major port will be shut down within two years because of a cyber-attack.
