Dutch Seaports partner on a national cybersecurity platform

The digital threat to ports increases daily and the cyberattacks pose a growing risk to nautical and logistical processes in Dutch seaports. A significant step forward in enhancing cybersecurity within the Dutch maritime sector was taken with the establishment of a national cybersecurity platform for the Dutch seaports.

The Dutch seaports, united under the Seaports Trade Organisation (Brancheorganisatie Zeehavens, BOZ), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security, have jointly developed the Cyber Strategy for Dutch Seaports.

This collaboration was officially signed by all parties on December 10.

The port authorities of Groningen Seaports, North Sea Port, Port of Rotterdam, Port of Moerdijk, and Port of Amsterdam, together with companies in their regions, are working to make the port ecosystem more digitally resilient.

As part of this approach, the FERM Foundation, which has been active for the ports of Rotterdam and Moerdijk since 2021, will be transformed into a national cybersecurity platform for Dutch seaports united under the BOZ.

To achieve this, FERM’s activities will be expanded to include other Dutch seaports. FERM aims to raise awareness among companies about cyber risks and promote collaboration in this area.

This includes sharing threat intelligence, exchanging knowledge, and providing necessary training for companies within the port areas.

Peter Van Parys, COO of North Sea Port, stated: “Cybercrime knows no borders. Addressing these threats and improving resilience is best done collectively. This allows us to strengthen the nautical chain and enhance safety within the ports.”

It’s worth mentioning that the Seaports Trade Organisation (BOZ) unites the five nationally significant seaports – Groningen Seaports, North Sea Port, Port of Rotterdam, Port of Moerdijk and the Port of Amsterdam.

BOZ focuses on issues that transcend individual seaports, representing the interests of its member ports and promoting knowledge exchange, and networking among seaport organizations.