Superyachts and Cybersecurity

Superyachts are facing anonymous cyberattacks from a new breed of hackers. These themes were notably addressed during the 28th edition of the Dubai International Boat Show.

The Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS), returning this year after a hiatus due to the global pandemic, is a key event in the annual luxury boating calendar and a very important event for luxury boat manufacturers. More than 800 companies in the sector, from 50 countries, gathered to present their latest products and innovations. Some of them are as below

Sunreef Yachts, a victim of delays caused by the global shipping crisis, has unveiled its new Sunreef Eco80 yacht and its revolutionary solar panel system. Its ecological design aims to make the yacht autonomous when docking or refueling. With electric car ownership on the rise, one would expect the same trend to occur with boats. However, Sunreef Yachts Founder and Chairman Francis Lapp explained that the rate of adoption of renewable fuels has not been the same on the water as on the roads.
Seabubble Futuristic Boat pushes the limits of hybridization. By combining hydrogen and battery, the Seabubble reduces charging time to just four minutes. Until now, recharging boats likewise took five to six hours. Using physics similar to an airplane wing, the Seabubble works through hydrofoils that create lift lifting the boat above the surface of the water. Hydrofoils limit drag, which reduces the energy needed to move the boat.

A Virtual War

Most modern ships are heavily equipped with technology, be it GPS, navigation systems, electronic chart displays or information.

ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display Information System) is a system for displaying nautical charts in electronic ENC format and information relating to navigation (position, course, speed, depth, danger, weather, etc.) The arrival of this new technology has taken superyachts into dangerous waters with the appearance of a new breed of pirates.

Owning a superyacht is a luxury reserved for the global financial elite due to the exorbitant cost of the vessel, but also its upkeep. These yachts, which compete in luxury and high-tech innovations, are a prime target for a new breed of hackers. They are specialized in cybercrime and harm the computer systems of these rich boats.

In the cinema, in films, pirates are often decked out with a hook and sail under a skull and crossbones flag. But these days they can actually hijack a ship and demand ransom from the comfort of a coffee shop.

Cybersecurity expert Naveen Hemanna explains how the rise of digital banks and cryptocurrencies are helping to fuel this form of crime.

“Pirates don’t need to be on the ship. This is a virtual war that happens because your wealth is also virtual. So being physically present is no longer really a necessity to do out of money,” Naveen Hemanna told euronews.

Cyber threats against yachts have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, this does not prevent the yachting industry from taking off with ever more new technologies and renewable energies.

Superyachts and Cybersecurity

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