North Sea Port collaborates with Dutch Seaports on a national cybersecurity platform
To address cyber threats, Dutch seaports, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security have jointly developed an approach: the "Cyber Strategy for Dutch Seaports."
The digital threat to ports increases daily. Cyberattacks pose a growing risk to nautical and logistical processes in Dutch seaports. To enhance the digital resilience of ports, 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 are working on a joint and national approach. This collaboration was officially signed by all parties on Tuesday, December 10.
Joint and nationwide approach
Cyber incidents impact the entire logistics chain due to the close interconnection of various parties. To better withstand these threats, 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.
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.”
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.
About the Dutch Seaports Trade Organisation (Brancheorganisatie Zeehavens, BOZ)
Seaports are essential to the Netherlands and Europe. Dutch seaports with connected logistics networks make global trade possible. They are operational centres for companies in the industrial and energy clusters, providing employment and contributing to prosperity. The Seaports Trade Organisation (BOZ) unites the five nationally significant seaports; Groningen Seaports, North Sea Port, Port of Rotterdam, Port of Moerdijk and Port of Amsterdam. BOZ focuses on issues that transcend individual seaports, representing the interests of our member ports and promoting knowledge exchange and networking among seaport organizations.
