Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi has issued a stark warning, stating that the world’s seas are rapidly transforming into ‘data oceans.’ This digital evolution of India’s maritime sector, while driving blue economy projects and facilitating trade, also brings significant cyber vulnerabilities. With India’s extensive coastline, numerous ports, and burgeoning maritime activities, any cyber disruption could have widespread and severe consequences, impacting supply chains, global markets, and international relations.
Admiral Tripathi made these remarks at a seminar focused on the ‘Impact of Cyber-attacks in the maritime sector and its effects on national security and international relations.’ The event, organized by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, gathered cybersecurity experts, academics, Cert-In officials, and naval officers.
Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, also spoke at the seminar, revealing that India faced millions of cyberattacks during ‘Operation Sindoor.’ He emphasized the silent but crucial battle fought in cyberspace during the recent military standoff with Pakistan, highlighting the neutralization of threats like disinformation and phishing.
This discussion comes at a time when the National Stock Exchange reported a record number of cyberattacks, facing 40 crore attacks in a single day, a significant jump from its average of 17 crore daily attacks.
Participants at the seminar identified key challenges, including fragmented oversight across various ministries and agencies responsible for the maritime sector’s cyber preparedness. Gaps in basic cyber hygiene, such as the use of weak passwords and underestimation of the human element in security, were also highlighted as persistent concerns.
The increasing digitalization through smart ports and AI is expanding the sector’s vulnerability surface. Given that the maritime sector contributes approximately 27% to India’s GDP and handles 95% of its trade, cyber resilience is paramount. The seminar underscored the urgent need for a centralized framework or a dedicated nodal agency to establish cyber standards and coordinate efforts across maritime, naval, and offshore domains.
Dr. Sanjay Bahl, Director General of CERT-In, confirmed that progress is being made towards establishing a dedicated Maritime CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) to specialize in handling maritime cyber incidents, coordinating responses, and setting security standards. While the framework is ready, its final adoption by the maritime sector is pending.
Admiral Tripathi further cited global examples, including the Suez Canal blockage caused by a cyberattack in 2021 and the 2023 cyberattack on DP World Australia, which significantly disrupted trade. He noted that the 2024 Maritime Cybersecurity Report documented over 50 billion firewall events globally, with 1,800 vessels targeted and 178 ransomware incidents, each costing an average of over half a million dollars. These attacks, he stressed, are not just system breaches but direct strikes on the global economy’s arteries.