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Port facilities in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands have been the targets of the large-scale cyber attack
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This is especially impacting the flow of oil products such as heating oil, diesel, jet fuel, gasoline and fuel oil in Antwerp, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Ghent and Terneuzen
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This makes it very clear that “the risk of further disruption in the supply chain is very real indeed”
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German judicial authorities said they have launched an investigation into suspected “extortion” of oil operators amid soaring energy prices
New cyber attacks launched recently against oil port terminals in Europe are disrupting operations and presenting a further threat to supply chains.
Port facilities in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands have been the targets of the large-scale cyber attack, authorities say.
The cyber attacks targeting oil loading facilities have spread to key terminals in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) refining hub, having affected operations in Germany earlier in the week, according to reports late last week.
The IT systems of multiple oil transport and storage companies across Europe, including those of Oiltanking in Germany, SEA-Invest in Belgium and Evos in the Netherlands, have been disrupted, preventing tankers from delivering energy supplies.
This is especially impacting the flow of oil products such as heating oil, diesel, jet fuel, gasoline and fuel oil in Antwerp, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Ghent and Terneuzen, with many cargoes and barges being diverted to other terminals in the region, according to a February 3 report from S&P Global Platts.
The cyber attacks, while not directly impacting the container shipping sector, are sufficiently connected to the industry. This makes it very clear that “the risk of further disruption in the supply chain is very real indeed—and that functioning and reliable backup procedures should be fully in place,” said a maritime shipping analyst.
BBC News said that dozens of terminals with oil storage and transport around the world have been affected.
German judicial authorities said they have launched an investigation into suspected “extortion” of oil operators amid soaring energy prices, said Euronews.
BBC News reported that Belgian prosecutors said they were investigating the cyber attack that has affected SEA-Invest terminals including the company’s largest in Antwerp, called SEA-Tank.
A spokeswoman for the company said the attack had affected every port they run in Europe and Africa.
A spokesperson for Evos in the Netherlands told BBC that IT services at terminals in Terneuzen, Ghent and Malta had “caused some delays in execution.”
Traders said the incident had resulted in many tankers being unable to load, as loading and unloading at the tank farms is largely an automated process, noted S&P Global Platts.
Cyberattacks have emerged as a growing threat to commodity supply chains and companies are starting to prioritize cyber security.
According to data compiled by Platts, there have been more than 20 cyber security incidents over the past two years targeting companies operating in commodity markets from energy to metals.
Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash
