DP World is now hard at work to clear the backlog caused by the cyber security breach that forced it to go offline for three days. The impact is significant as Australia’s largest terminal operator is responsible for 40% of the country’s maritime freight.
The ports operator says that following successful tests of key systems overnight, it restored operations fully. It’s now moving about 5,000 containers from the four Australian terminals in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Fremantle.
The company is still warning there might be temporary delays while it clears up the aftermath of the outages.
Experts have warned if the outage continued for the rest of the week, the ripple effect would have been far more severe than anyone can imagine.
Multiple investigations are underway to determine where the cyber attack came from and how to prevent it from happening again.
Locate2u’s Steve Orenstein says: “The impact now would be on retailers. They are receiving a lot of their orders for Christmas, and there may be some stock issues that may occur as a result of this incident. This will have an impact on consumers and also businesses, but overall Australia’s economy.”
More hurdles for DP World
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) is on strike through November 19 at all four terminals operated by DP World. They demand a “fair wage outcome” per inflation and industry benchmarks. They are also demanding that the employer commits to roster and working arrangements that are balanced and fair.
ALSO READ: Major delays to container movement in Australia following a ‘cyber breach’
DP World has a lot on its plate, as it could now face claims from businesses impacted by this weekend’s security breach.
The International Forwarders & Customs Brokers Association of Australia (IFCBAA) warned its members to record the duration of delays for every container or shipment. This will likely be useful later for potential claims for loss of income. “It will also help with concessions to request for demurrage and detention,” says IFCBAA head Scott Carson.
Cyber security breaches on the rise
Cyber intrusions have been rising in Australia since late last year, ITnews is reporting. As a result, the government has jumped into action to reform rules. In February, it set up an agency to help coordinate responses to hacks.
Cyber security minister Clare O’Neil told ABC Radio that this latest breach with DP World shows how “vulnerable we have been in this country to cyber incidents.” She also says this is a wake-up call for the country to develop new plans to keep citizens and companies safe.
Reuters reports that the breach comes as the government released its proposed cyber security laws that would force companies to report all ransomware incidents, demands, or payments. DP World has not reported any ransom orders being made at the weekend.
About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
