Shipping lines operating along African trade routes are reviewing how onboard IT and operational technology systems are segmented from one another, following an industry advisory urging tighter separation between administrative networks and systems that control navigation and engine functions.
Fleet security officers say the review has mostly involved auditing existing network architecture rather than wholesale changes, though some operators are accelerating planned upgrades to onboard firewalls and network monitoring.
Maritime cybersecurity specialists note that African-flagged and regionally trading fleets have historically had less dedicated cybersecurity investment than larger international carriers, making the current review a useful baseline exercise.