FBI, Coast Guard board hacked oil tankers in Gulf of Mexico
US agencies inspected two U.S.-bound tankers after network breaches, as officials probe possible Iranian involvement.
The FBI and U.S. Coast Guard boarded two U.S.-bound oil tankers in the Gulf of Mexico between August 21 and 24 after signs that both vessels’ networks had been breached. A joint statement said the goal was to verify the safety and integrity of the ships’ operational and IT systems, which reportedly include navigation, propulsion, and cargo controls. CBS News identified one of the tankers as VL Prosperity, a large crude carrier that Iranian media reported was hacked on August 7 while en route from Egypt to the U.S., with CBS also reporting interference with its speed and fuel systems and a loss of communications for over a day. The joint statement said there were no reported operational disruptions, instability, danger to crews, or environmental impacts from the incident. U.S. officials are investigating whether Iran was behind the hack amid a broader pattern of Iranian-linked cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure and companies.
Why it matters
Boarding two loaded tankers over hacked networks shows that cyberattacks on shipping have moved from theory to an operational risk for critical energy transport. Investigators say hackers reportedly gained control over navigation, propulsion and cargo systems on at least one vessel and disrupted its speed, fuel use and communications, prompting on-site checks even though no instability or environmental damage was reported. The inquiry into possible Iranian involvement ties this directly into a wider pattern of attacks on U.S. targets.