On February 21, 2024, the White House issued an executive order implementing various measures to bolster the security of US ports by expanding the US Coast Guard’s authority to regulate maritime cybersecurity, requiring the reporting of cyber incidents and investing in the US port critical infrastructure.
With the increasing use of connected systems in the maritime industry, these recent measures continue to demonstrate the administration’s focus on improving the cybersecurity of the nation’s critical infrastructure, including vessels and port facility operations, and reflects the increasing merger of economic and national security concerns in the Marine Transportation System (MTS). This particular executive order is not a one-off initiative. Rather, it is part of a broader administration strategy targeting perceived national security threats and potential threats to supply chains, including those supporting critical infrastructure.