Cybersecurity in Maritime Transport: An International Perspective on Regulatory Frameworks and Countermeasures

• Pages: 1-13

LEX PORTUS VOL 11 ISS 1 2025

ISSN 2524-101X

eISSN 2617-541X

DOI 10.62821/lp11101

Cybersecurity in Maritime Transport:

An International Perspective on Regulatory

Frameworks and Countermeasures

Oleksiy Melnyk*, Oleksandr Drozdov**, Serhii Kuznichenko***

*Professor, Master Mariner, Navigation and Maritime Safety Department, Odesa National Maritime University (34, Mechnikova St., Odesa, Ukraine)

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9228-8459

**Professor, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (77, Hryhoriia Skovorody St., Kharkiv, Ukraine), University of Barcelona (08034,

684 Av. Diagonal, Barcelona, Spain) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1364-1272

***Professor, National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine (80, Chernyshevskaya St., Kharkiv, Ukraine) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9278-2756

ABSTRACT

This article combines legal, technical, and organizational aspects to propose a comprehensive

approach to addressing cybersecurity of maritime transport. The article highlights key gaps in

the international legal framework and suggests a unied legal framework to regulate these cyber

threats from a maritime transportation perspective. The article focuses on technical solutions

but is supported by professional training in a virtual environment. The main innovation of this

article is the interdisciplinary approach, combining technological advances with social research

and legal analysis. Among other proposals, developing an international maritime cybersecurity

convention, a standard global incident registry and a transnational data sharing system are

proposed. Such a systematic framework would have serious potential to address critical safety

issues and improve the safety of the global shipping industry.

CITATION

Melnyk, O., Drozdov, O., &

Kuznichenko, S. (2025). Cyber-

security in Maritime Transport:

An International Perspective

on Regulatory Frameworks

and Countermeasures.

Lex Portus, 11(1), 7–19.

https://doi.org/10.62821/lp11101

KEYWORDS

maritime cybersecurity, maritime

law, incident response, global

maritime security standards,

international legal frameworks

The journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-

NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Introduction

Cyberthreats represents a vital concern for anything to do with global logistics and

transportation security regarding the maritime industry. As shipping becomes largely

dependent on digital technologies like automated vessel trac management, IT systems, and

electronic data exchange, it becomes more and more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Enacting

legislation against these acts may represent a big step in the creation of an international

maritime security conguration. However, several factors pose challenges to establishing law:

the international character of maritime transport, the complicated identication, and the lack

of uniform security standards.

Studies in recent times reveal that the maritime industry is becoming a victim of cyber-

attack every year. Currently, vessel control systems, navigation systems, and logistics platforms

are most frequently targeted by cyber perpetrators threatening the global maritime safety.

The gravity of cybersecurity issues in the maritime sector is well attested by academic

studies like that of Emre et al. (2024), which details major cyber incidents within this realm,

highlighting the inadequacy of ship control systems to guard against advanced attacks.

A famous instance is the NotPetya virus, which altered the activities of Maersk and thus

represents a far-reaching impact of cyberattacks on global supply chains.