International Maritime Organization‘s (IMO) website has been fully restored since Friday, 2 October, according to IMO’s Twitter account, after the cyber attack on Wednesday, 30 September.
“A number of IMO’s web-based services became unavailable,” the IMO admitted in a statement and added that “The interruption of web-based services was caused by a sophisticated cyber-attack against the organization’s IT systems that overcame robust security measures in place.”
IMO was the first United Nation’s (UN) organization to get ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification for its information security management system in 2015.
The IMO headquarters file servers are located in the United Kingdom, with extensive backup systems in Geneva. The backup and restore system is regularly tested, according to IMO’s announcement.
Following the attack the secretariat shut down key systems to prevent further damage from the attack.
The UN agency achieved to deal with the hacking attack within 2-3 days, while the French shipping group, CMA CGM is still struggling to return to normal operations one week after the initial announcement of the cyber attack.
However, Mercosul and Containerships, two of the group’s subsidiaries, are once again fully operational, according to the latest update that CMA CGM published on Friday, 5 October.
“The CMA CGM Group continues to be fully mobilized to restore access to all its information systems. Our worldwide agency network is gradually being reconnected,” the Marseille-based shipping company added.
Introduction to International Maritime Organization:
IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships. IMO’s work supports the UN SDGs.
As a specialized agency of the United Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.
In other words, its role is to create a level playing-field so that ship operators cannot address their financial issues by simply cutting corners and compromising on safety, security and environmental performance. This approach also encourages innovation and efficiency.
Shipping is a truly international industry, and it can only operate effectively if the regulations and standards are themselves agreed, adopted and implemented on an international basis. And IMO is the forum at which this process takes place.
International shipping transports more than 80 per cent of global trade to peoples and communities all over the world. Shipping is the most efficient and cost-effective method of international transportation for most goods; it provides a dependable, low-cost means of transporting goods globally, facilitating commerce and helping to create prosperity among nations and peoples.
The world relies on a safe, secure and efficient international shipping industry – and this is provided by the regulatory framework developed and maintained by IMO.
IMO measures cover all aspects of international shipping – including ship design, construction, equipment, manning, operation and disposal – to ensure that this vital sector for remains safe, environmentally sound, energy efficient and secure.
Shipping is an essential component of any programme for future sustainable economic growth. Through IMO, the Organization’s Member States, civil society and the shipping industry are already working together to ensure a continued and strengthened contribution towards a green economy and growth in a sustainable manner. The promotion of sustainable shipping and sustainable maritime development is one of the major priorities of IMO in the coming years.
As part of the United Nations family, IMO is actively working towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the associated
SDGs. Indeed, most of the elements of the 2030 Agenda will only be realized with a sustainable transport sector supporting world trade and facilitating global economy. IMO’s Technical Cooperation Committee has formally approved
linkages between the Organization’s technical assistance work and the SDGs. While the oceans goal, SDG 14, is central to IMO, aspects of the Organization’s work can be linked to all individual
SDGs.
Energy efficiency, new technology and innovation, maritime education and training, maritime security, maritime traffic management and the development of the maritime infrastructure: the development and implementation, through IMO, of global standards covering these and other issues will underpin IMO’s commitment to provide the institutional framework necessary for a green and sustainable global maritime transportation system.
Syed Monirul Alam
Team member of professional freelancer journalists.This team is working all around the world shipping sector.
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