Cyber risk moves to the frontline for shipping after Greek authority warning, says CSM Greece

Shipping companies are being pushed to reassess their cyber resilience after Greece’s National Cybersecurity Authority issued a high-priority advisory urging critical sectors to scan systems for potential threats, says Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM) Greece.

The alert follows recent international incidents that have been linked to Iran-aligned cyber activity, reinforcing concerns that geopolitical tensions are increasingly playing out in the digital domain. While no major breaches have been confirmed in Greece, the move has already triggered precautionary checks across parts of the maritime sector.

Gregory Spourdalakis, Managing Director of CSM Greece, said: “Shipping is far more exposed than it was even a few years ago. The volume of data moving between vessels and shore has increased significantly, and that creates more entry points for potential threats.

“Resilience today is not about a single system or solution. It comes down to how well organisations monitor activity, how quickly information is shared internally, and whether people know how to respond when something doesn’t look right. Crew and shore-based staff are the first line of defence. If awareness is not there, the risk increases, regardless of how advanced the systems are.”

Mark O’Neil, CEO of Columbia Group, added: “Cyber risk is no longer isolated or theoretical. It is evolving alongside geopolitical developments and becoming more relevant to day-to-day operations. For shipping, that means treating cyber resilience in the same way as any other operational risk. It is about preparedness, discipline and consistency.

“The absence of a major incident does not mean the threat is not there. In many cases, activity is happening in the background, testing systems and probing for weaknesses.”