Cybersecurity in the Transportation Industry

9Autonomous Shipping: Security Issues and Challenges

Imdad Ali Shah

School of Computing Science, Taylor’s University, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

Autonomous shipping is a developing technology with the potential to radically alter the shipping sector by introducing unmanned vessels. While autonomous shipping has several potential advantages, including higher efficiency, decreased costs, and enhanced safety, it also faces some security concerns and future obstacles. Connectivity, data sharing, and digital systems are crucial for autonomous ships. This reliance increases the likelihood of cyber threats like hacking, data loss, and unwanted interference. Autonomous ships’ safe and secure functioning depends on their being shielded from cyber threats. Navigation, propulsion, and cargo management are just a few systems that make up an autonomous ship. Hackers can potentially exploit flaws in any system. It is crucial to identify and remedy these vulnerabilities to protect the ship’s operations from threats that could interrupt or compromise them. Sensors like global positioning systems (GPS), radar, and lidar let autonomous ships get a clear picture of their surroundings and make sound navigational choices. However, the signals from these sensors can be intentionally disrupted (in the case of jamming) or spoofed (in the case of spoofing) by malicious actors. If an attack of this kind compromises the ship’s navigation system, collisions and other accidents may happen. ...