Cybersecurity

It wasn’t that long ago that many analysts believed the demise of Blackberry was close at hand. They were so wrong.

A former Canadian prime minister, former Mexican commerce secretary, and former U.S. ambassador to Mexico said during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that Washington should recognize the benefits the U.S. has gained from the trade deal.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said the World Trade Organization rules are not keeping China in check, and the United States should not have supported China’s 2001 entry into the WTO.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s post-9/11 supply chain security program is ready for an update, but the industry has remained concerned about implementing changes.

Singapore-based blockchain startup LALA World has confirmed a joint development project with Bermuda-based cybersecurity firm, Verifiable Identity-Based Encryption (VIBE), to secure its blockchain-enabled banking system.

Mexico’s ambassador to the United States told CBS News there is a 50% chance that the end result of NAFTA negotiations will be termination of the trade pact.

With millions of commercial vehicles now running electronic logging devices (ELD), concerns have been raised about cyber attacks. That concern is leading to more interest in cyber insurance policies.

The Maryland Port Administration (MPA) received grant funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for port security upgrades at Baltimore’s public marine terminals.

This afternoon FedEx announced its Q2 earnings for fiscal year 2018, which exceeded analyst expectations. FedEx cited higher base rates, volume growth, and cheap fuel as factors in the company’s performance.

With the evolution of trucks into computers on wheels, cybersecurity becomes more of an issue. Autonomous trucks are especially an attractive target for the hacking community.

Last-minute efforts to delay or stop the electronic logging device rule (ELD) are continuing, but it may be too little, too late unless President Donald Trump throws a Hail Mary.

Anheuser-Busch’s private fleet is among the leaders in the country when it comes to efforts to cut carbon emissions through alternative fuel use. The company is taking another step, announcing it has reserved 40 Tesla Semi electric tractors.

The Danish shipping giant is beefing up its cyber security, automation and big data analytics by hiring “world-class talent” for its India-based digital technology center, according to local media outlet The Hindu.

Despite significant investment in supply chain and logistics technology firms, venture capitalists say a divide remains between investors and the industry when it comes to understanding how shipping works, what needs fixing and where it can be disrupted.

ZIM, MTI, and Maersk have all announced trials of blockchain-based solutions for shipping, from bills-of-lading to cybersecurity protections. 

Carbon emissions, safety and cyber security were at the top of the agenda at last month’s meeting of the Tripartite Shipbuilding Forum, which attracted over 100 delegates and was hosted by the China Classification Society in Nantong, China.

Shipbroker and research consultant Clarksons revealed Wednesday that sensitive data had been potentially compromised by an outside hack and that the attacker may release some of the breached data today.

Hackers could potentially cause environmental damage and incur heavy fines for shipping lines by using nefarious techniques, according to a recent report from security testing company Pen Test Partners.

Following on the heels of a 90-day waiver from the ELD rule for agriculture haulers, and several other exemptions granted by FMCSA in recent months, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has submitted a new exemption request to the agency.

In an annual report on pressing management challenges, the U.S. Department of Transportation said that safety remains the agency’s top priority.

The seventh and final ELD survey conducted by Morgan Stanley before the Dec. 18 compliance date has found that capacity is expected to tighten about 3.44%, the highest level of all the surveys, the firm said.

Co-developer Naval Dome says that its system is the first multi-layer cyber defense solution developed specifically for maritime applications.

Sections of the long-haul and drayage trucking communities are still unprepared for implementation of the fast approaching federal mandate to install electronic logging devices (ELDs) on all commercial trucks and buses by Dec. 18, 2017.

The only group of employees in C.R. England’s 8,000-plus workforce that is part of a union has voted to decertify Teamsters Local 705. Drivers in C.R. England’s Chicago Intermodal division, which represented less than 1% of the company’s employees, voted on Sept. 20 to leave the union.

William Alsup, a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California, pushed back the start of a trial between Google affiliate Waymo and the now ubiquitous ride-sharing app provider surrounding autonomous driving tech from Oct. 10 until Dec. 4.

The U.S. Senate is set to pass a self-driving vehicle bill, and like similar legislation in the U.S. House passed early in September, it excludes commercial vehicles. The Senate bill will not include vehicles larger than 10,000 pounds, Reuters reported.

The AV START Act (S. 1885) would require manufacturers to submit safety evaluation reports to the Secretary of Transportation with information on safety, crashworthiness, and cybersecurity through documented testing, validation and assessment.

The coalition, whose members represent industries that would be impacted by the mandate, says implementation of the FMCSA’s electronic logging device requirements should be delayed until various unresolved issues identified by stakeholders are addressed.

The new Defense Department budget includes funds set aside to study blockchain and the impact of the technology in the hands of either the good guys or bad. This could be a good thing for the US logistics industry, as some of the research will probably make into the private sector. 

The United Kingdom’s Department for Transport has commission the release of a new code of practice for vessels with regard to maritime cyber security, Transport Minister Lord Callanan said during London International Shipping Week.

In the future, blockchain infrastructure will help mitigate the effect and scope of cyberattacks through its two fundamental characteristics: decentralization and cryptography so events such as last week’s Equifax breach don’t happen.

The U.S. House passed driverless car legislation on Wednesday, but the bill does not address commercial trucks and the likelihood of trucks being included is uncertain at this point.

The test was conducted over an almost four-hour period during which the supply ship was driven through a series of maneuvers at both high and low speeds.

A blockchain is an always-growing collection of linked data that is secured cryptographically, with each block resistant to data modification, including outside cyberattacks.

The A.P. Moller-Maersk Group’s experience with Petya (or NotPetya) should be a wakeup call for the entire shipping and logistics industry; small shippers and forwarders can no longer afford to think they are insulated from the effects of such an attack.

World’s-largest container carrier Maersk Line reported a highly profitable second quarter based on stronger-than-expected rates, but expects to lose $200 million to $300 million recovering from June cybersecurity breach.

The recent “Petya” cyber attack involving Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk should serve as a stark reminder to all companies in the global shipping industry to reexamine existing systems protections and contingency plans.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has appointed Bradley F. Hayes to the position of executive director of trade relations in the Office of the Commissioner.

Although 19 states have passed laws regarding autonomous vehicles, they vary from state to state, posing challenges to the implementation of the technology, according to Larry O’Rourke, manager at global consulting and technology services firm ICF.

In addition, the Danish ocean carrier has implemented “different and further protective measures” in its cyber security in the wake of the June 27 Petya virus attack that all but crippled the company’s IT systems.

U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, has filed the ELD Extension Act of 2017 (H.R. 3282), which would delay the implementation of the electronic logging device mandate for commercial trucks from December 2017 to December 2019.

The on-again, off-again saga over the electronic logging device rule is back on again after language was inserted into a House appropriations bill this week directing FMCSA to review the rule and make a determination if the rule should be delayed or changed.

Meanwhile, the world’s largest ocean carrier also says that it is now up-to-date on short-term quotes, is progressing on issuing invoices and that its delivery process for imports is operational.

Hearing on NAFTA modernization  The House of Representative’s Committee on Ways and Means will convene a hearing on the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). USCG cyber risks act The U.S. Coast Guard has drafted the Navigation and Inspection Circular (NVIC) 05-17; Guidelines for Addressing Cyber Risks at Maritime Transportation Security Act […]

Maersk Line and parcel carrier TNT Express are just now getting major functions back online after last week’s massive cyber attack, compounding a systematic problem that needs to be addressed immediately, according to SeaIntel’s Lars Jensen.

Don’t get hung up in the back-end weeds of blockchain technology – it’s about transferring value between parties

The revised rules from the BIMCO-led group include information on insurance issues, how to effectively segregate cyber networks, and how to handle cyber security during port calls and when communicating with shore side operations.

Shut downs of operating systems due to cyberattacks are complete handicaps for logistics companies and lead to significant amounts of lost business as well as productivity. But can they be prevented?

According to research from KPMG and HfS Research, more companies than ever are outsourcing their supply chain and logistics services as the job of moving product becomes more complicated. 

Chairs of the House PORTS Caucus – Congressmen Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) and Ted Poe (TX-02) – sent a letter to DHS Secretary John Kelly to get a classified understanding on the country’s ports’ cyber protection plans.

The world’s largest liner carrier and its associated businesses are gradually recovering from Tuesday’s massive cyber attack, but some systems remain shuttered.

The world’s largest container line is one of many companies and organizations that have reported being hit by a cyber attack this week.

Vessel losses declined 16 percent last year compared with 2015 and the number of shipping incident casualties also dropped on a year-over-year basis, according to a new report from insurance provider Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty.

Lawmakers from the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on Tuesday released six principles for bipartisan legislation on self-driving vehicles ahead of the committee’s hearing on the subject Wednesday afternoon.

The future of self-driving commercial cargo trucks and autonomous ocean vessels is fast approaching, but questions remain about how to develop, test and regulate the still-emerging technology.

E-commerce growth and continued developments in specialized markets like the pharmaceutical industry will only serve to bolster air cargo growth, according to Alexandre de Juniac, director general at the International Air Transport Association.

Benoit de la Tour, president of terminal operating systems provider Navis, which is extending its reach beyond the terminal, stressed the need to simplify supply chain complexity, noting how the industry is behind in digitalization.

Piracy concerns don’t get the headlines they once did, but it remains a problem for seafarers.

A University of Michigan study found that only 9.7% of those surveyed said they have no concerns about fully autonomous vehicles. But what about driving alongside an 80,000-lb. autonomous big rig? These are already being tested on roads and could be operational within five years. Is the industry ready for the disruption autonomous trucks will cause?

Report finds gap between companies selling online and using automated trade tools

Tom Cook, managing director of Blue Tiger International, discussed the negative effects of risk exposure in the global supply chain and how to manage those risks.

OFAC move incorrectly interpreted by some lawmakers

As a result of Russia’s alleged interference in the U.S. presidential election, the White House is imposing sanctions on three Russian companies, expelling 35 Russian diplomats from the U.S., and closing two Russian-operated U.S. facilities.

President-elect Donald Trump announced a series of immediate actions he plans to take to increase jobs and wages for workers, including the withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.

Mxi Technologies names new CEO,; IAPH (America, North region) appoints new VP; ATA names CFO; Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg hires FDA regulatory consultant; and Morrison & Foerster appoints head of Transportation Group.

The U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center will begin providing supply chain threat reports to critical U.S. telecommunications, energy, and financial businesses in an effort to defend against cyberattacks, among other threats.

The American Association of Port Authorities is concerned that local agencies with no nexus to ports are taking advantage of a federal program designed to help ports pay for security needs.

Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas is offering a new master’s program in port management, and recently named veteran port administrator Erik Stromberg to lead its new Center for Advances in Port Management.

SAL appoints manager of Singapore office, while Union Pacific appoints cyber-security expert to board and Johanson Transportation Service announces promotions.

The next round of federal port security grants from the United States Department of Homeland Security is now open to eligible parties, such as port authorities, marine terminal operators, and state and local government agencies.

BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping and Intertanko are among the industry bodies that have developed a framework to help shipowners and operators prepare for cyber attacks.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping, whose agenda in the U.S. includes commercial issues, Wednesday met with CEOs from Boeing, Apple and Cisco in Seattle on his way to visit President Obama in Washington, D.C. on Friday.

Global cargo thefts are increasing at an “alarming” rate and are no longer limited to high-value goods, according to the International Union of Marine Insurance.

The aircraft manufacturer opened a research and technology center in Huntsville, Ala. on June 18.

The Department of Homeland Security has made $100 million available for 2015 port security grants.

The $461m purchase of Maher’s Canadian terminal will allow the Dubai-owned port operator to increase its U.S. business.

   We’ve often written within these pages about the importance of connectivity.    Indeed, modern transportation and trade management software platforms are built to leverage the benefits of connecting supply chain partners easily and quickly.    But they need to ensure that connectivity doesn’t hurt their operations and those of their suppliers and service providers. […]

   Increased funding for ports—not just for marine terminals themselves, but connections via water and land—continue to be a key focus for the American Association of Port Authorities.    In January, AAPA held a roundtable in the Port of Long Beach to draw the media’s attention to what it believes is a need to boost […]

   Just before Thanksgiving I spoke with Andrew Kinsey, a senior marine risk consultant for Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, who addressed a variety of issues on his radar screen.    A retired master for both Maersk Line, Ltd. and the U.S. Military Sealift Command, he was returning from Alabama where he had done a […]

A white paper from CyberKeel lays out motivations and mechanics of attacks, as well as protections and strategies.

The Canaveral Port Authority recently received a $1.6 million port security grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Report says government should leverage businesses to combat security threats.    The U.S. government must take greater advantage of private sector capabilities in order to better deal with transnational threats such as terrorism, climate change, nuclear proliferation and cyber disruptions, according to a new report from the Stimson Center.    Among its recommendations is a […]

   The cyber security firm TrapX on Thursday said it had discovered a form of malware implanted by an unidentified Chinese manufacturers in terminal scanners designed to track inventory levels.

   The chief executive officer and founder of the container shipping analyst SeaIntel Consulting, Lars Jensen, has launched a new company focusing on cyber security in the maritime industry.

Senate Confirms Johnson to lead DHS.   By a vote of 78 to 16, the U.S. Senate voted Monday to confirm Jeh Johnson as secretary of homeland security.    President Obama nominated Johnson two months ago. He will be responsible for border security, disaster preparation and response, immigration control, cyber security, infrastructure protection, and aviation security. […]

   The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is preparing for the worst with the blunt tool of across-the-board spending cuts known as sequestration, which is scheduled to kick in March 1 unless Congress acts to replace it with a more measured deficit-reduction package.    In testimony last Thursday before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Homeland Security […]

     The European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) said it has published its first report ever on maritime cyber security challenges and threats.    The report covers key insights, existing initiatives, precautions and recommendations, and a baseline for cyber security.    ENISA said all sectors that deploy information and communication technologies (ICT) are […]

O’Malley    Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is scheduled to arrive in India Monday with representatives from 43 companies, educators and state officials on a six-day trade mission to Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.    Prior to arriving in India O’Malley and Christian Johansson, secretary of business and economic development, will make a brief stop in […]

COAC meeting shows Bersin’s innovation

Cloudy thinking

Setting record straight on Maersk Alabama

DHS posts job opening for logistics expert

Security tops Napolitano agenda in London

Congress needs better security answers

ACE built to withstand cyber attacks, CBP says

Chertoff Group lands former CBP chief Ahern

Obama reorganizes homeland security staff

GAO: tighter federal freight rail security needed

Transitioning to a new administration

Napolitano reviews northern border security