Branche Organisatie Zeehavens (BOZ), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W), and the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) have developed an approach to address cyber security risks in Dutch ports with the new Cyber Strategy for Dutch Seaports.
Cyber incidents affect the entire logistics chain in seaports, prompting port operators under the BOZ (Groningen Seaports, North Sea Port, Port of Rotterdam, Port of Moerdijk, and Port of Amsterdam) to collaborate with local businesses to enhance digital resilience. This effort will be led by the FERM Foundation, which was initially established in 2021 to raise awareness of cyber risks in the Port of Rotterdam. FERM will now expand into a national cybersecurity platform for Dutch seaports under the BOZ.
Koen Overtoom, CEO of Port of Amsterdam, noted the growing risks of digital attacks in the Amsterdam port region. To improve resilience in the North Sea Canal area, a cybersecurity program was launched, focusing on raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and promoting collaboration.
A national FERM organization will be established soon, with Marijn van Schoote, currently CISO of Port of Rotterdam, taking over as director in January 2025. He will lead efforts for national cybersecurity cooperation, playing a central role in coordinating the cyber resilience of Dutch seaports through threat information sharing, knowledge exchange, and training.
The Amsterdam port region also has the Cyber Security Program for the North Sea Canal Area (NZKG), which aims to strengthen cybersecurity in the region. A central reporting point for cyber incidents has been set up, alongside an Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) for local organizations to share experiences and threat data. This collaboration fosters a community that can quickly respond to new cyber threats and exchange best practices.
According to DNV’s Maritime Cyber Priority 2023, achieving a more cyber-secure supply chain is far from easy. For this to happen, operators need to thoroughly audit their vendors’ cybersecurity requirements during procurement, installation and operation of equipment, systems, and software. Despite the threat of cyber-attack in today’s maritime sector, and the many factors potentially driving investment, industry professionals say their biggest cyber-related challenge is insufficient funding.
