Cyberattack Halts Australian Ports, Choking Supply Chain
Last Friday, DP World Australia, a foremost port operator in Australia, fell victim to a widespread cyberattack, as reported by The Australian Financial Review. The incident caused significant disruptions in the operations of port terminals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, which handle approximately 40% of the nation’s imported and exported goods.
The attack resulted in the immobilization of around 30,000 containers carrying a diverse range of goods, including electronics, apparel, and food items. According to AFR, the incident led to the disconnection of systems that facilitate data exchange between trucks and the operator, preventing vehicles from accessing the terminals, although the unloading and loading of ships could still proceed. Consequently, containers accumulated, occupying 90% of the storage spaces.
Nicolaj Noes, DP World’s regional director in Oceania, estimates that the value of the stranded cargoes varies from container to container. “You can have a container of blood plasma that’s worth a million dollars, and then you’re going to have some used clothing for export worth $800,” he stated. Containers scheduled for delivery to clients on Friday are now expected to be delivered no earlier than Monday or Tuesday, should DP World manage to restore its systems, he added.
According to Bloomberg reports, DP World Plc announced significant progress on Sunday in resuming its operations post-attack. However, government data indicates that the computer system remains inaccessible since the hack was detected on Friday.
