Video shows Coast Guard, FBI boarding oil vessel suspected of being hacked by Iran
The FBI and the Coast Guard are investigating a giant oil tanker on its way to Texas that may have been taken over by a cyberattack. Iranian state media claims hackers had control of the ship's propellers, raising concern that these giant vessels could be used as weapons. Nicole Sganga reports.
Coast Guard and FBI agents boarded a Texas-bound commercial oil tanker on August 21 to investigate a potential cyberattack before the vessel arrived at a port. The Coast Guard stated that the team examined both operational technology and information-technology systems on board the ship, working with the crew and corporate operators to remove the threat.
As of the report, there were no signs of operational disruptions, vessel instability, physical danger to crew members, or environmental impacts. The U.S. has not attributed the breach to a specific actor, but Iranian state media reported the incident in the following weeks. Iranian reports suggested the ship, named VL Prosperity, was targeted on August 7 while sailing from Egypt's Sidi Kerir terminal to the United States, losing communications for 30 hours.
Iranian media alleged that hackers penetrated engine-room systems, reduced engine cooling flow, increased engine speed, and interfered with fuel and lubricating-oil systems.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
