GTMaritime is warning that shipping faces increasing operational disruption, fraud and safety risks as cyber threats exploit limited visibility of onboard systems.

As vessels become more digitally connected, many operators still lack a clear, up-to-date view of the systems and software running across their fleets. Without that visibility, identifying vulnerabilities and understanding the impact of a breach becomes significantly more difficult.

The challenge is compounded by the realities of maritime operations. Ships operate for extended periods without synchronising with shore systems, bandwidth is constrained and onboard configurations often differ from vessel to vessel. Over time, this makes it harder to maintain accurate system records and allows risks to go undetected.

The nature of cyber risk is also evolving. In the coming years, the industry will see more incidents driven by deception alongside conventional cyber attacks, including fraudulent instructions, manipulated communications and operational errors triggered by systems that appear legitimate. In these scenarios, operators must be able to demonstrate exactly what was running onboard and how those systems were managed.

Jamie Jones, Managing Director at GTMaritime, said: “If you cannot clearly see and manage what is running on your vessels, you cannot protect it. That creates exposure not just to cyber attacks, but to operational mistakes and manipulated communications with real safety implications. A major cyber incident in shipping is increasingly likely unless operators strengthen visibility and control of their onboard systems.”

GTMaritime’s GT Identify platform provides operators with a continuously updated record of onboard systems, software and vulnerabilities across their fleets. It captures changes even when connectivity is limited, enabling earlier risk identification and supporting ongoing cyber risk management.