U.S. authorities board oil tankers targeted in cyberattacks
U.S. boards tankers after cyberattacks; Iranian involvement under investigation.
Event / Geopolitics
Oil Tanker Cyberattacks August 2024
Two oil tankers bound for the United States experienced cyberattacks in August 2024. The VL Prosperity lost communications for 30 hours on August 7 while crossing the Atlantic. U.S. Coast Guard and FBI personnel boarded both vessels to assess threats. Authorities are investigating possible Iranian involvement with no operational disruptions or environmental impacts reported.
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2026-09-17 to 2026-11-05 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 17 Sept, 02:38 UTC
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What happened
Oil tanker VL Prosperity experienced cyberattack while crossing Atlantic
The VL Prosperity, a 333-meter Liberian-flagged very large crude carrier capable of carrying approximately 2.3 million barrels of oil, experienced a cyberattack on August 7 while sailing from Egypt's Sidi Kerir terminal toward Galveston, Texas. The vessel lost communications for approximately 30 hours. The attack occurred while the tanker was in the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco.
Second oil tanker boarded by U.S. officials following cyberattack
On August 24, a second oil tanker bound for the United States was boarded by U.S. officials to conduct a cyber assessment following a suspected cyberattack. Like the first incident, authorities worked to ensure the integrity of the vessel's operational and information technology systems.
No operational disruptions reported from oil tanker cyberattacks
Following the boarding and mitigation efforts on both vessels, the Coast Guard and FBI reported no operational disruptions, vessel instability, physical danger to crews, or environmental impacts from the cyberattacks.
Coast Guard and FBI board oil tanker after cyberattack detection
On August 21, U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement personnel, vessel inspectors, Coast Guard Cyber Protection Team members, and FBI Cyber Action Team operators boarded a foreign-flagged commercial oil tanker in the Gulf of Mexico. The boarding followed indications that the vessel's network had been compromised by foreign cyber actors. The team examined both operational technology and information technology systems, working with the crew and corporate operators to remove the threat.
U.S. authorities investigating Iran's possible involvement in tanker cyberattacks
U.S. authorities are investigating the possibility that Iran or another actor seeking to exploit the ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S. was involved in the attacks on the oil tankers. Iranian state media amplified reporting on the incidents in the weeks following the initial breach.
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