A significant cybersecurity incident at DP World’s Australian subsidiary, a major operator of Australian maritime ports, has led to a “nationally significant” outage, impacting the movement of goods in and out of the country.
Detected on Friday, the outage affects major ports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Fremantle. DP World Australia, handling 40 percent of the nation’s international container cargo, faces disruptions likely to last for several days, affecting imports and exports. While DP World continues ship operations in Fremantle, trucks are unable to enter specific areas for container retrieval due to the cyber incident. The Australian government, utilizing the National Coordination Mechanism, is coordinating responses and providing technical assistance.
Air Marshal Darren Goldie, Australia’s national cyber security coordinator, highlighted the gravity of the incident, emphasizing its national significance. DP World Australia promptly took action, disconnecting internet connectivity to prevent further unauthorized access and minimize the impact on stakeholders. The incident prompted an investigation by the Australian Federal Police, although specific details, such as whether it involves ransomware, remain undisclosed.
Clare O’Neil, Home Affairs and Cybersecurity Minister, affirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the situation, working closely with DP World to comprehend the impacts across the supply chain. Meanwhile, the cyber incident adds to challenges faced by DP World, as the Maritime Union of Australia initiates rolling strikes, including work stoppages and bans on loading and unloading trucks.
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