The Port of Ostend, a significant Belgian port, filed a complaint with the federal police following a cyberattack on Monday night. The attack specifically targeted the Ensor system. This system is responsible for logging the arrival and departure of ships.
Authorities were immediately notified. A dedicated team, comprising internal and external cybersecurity experts, is working diligently to resolve the situation. The Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB) is leading this effort
Over the next few days, the affected servers and systems will undergo a phased restoration process. The Port of Ostend has emphasized its unwavering commitment to safeguarding crew identity and personal data.
“At this time, we have no indication of any data breaches,” a port spokesperson stated. “However, we apologize for any uncertainty this may cause for crew members. Should any personal data be compromised, we will contact those affected as soon as possible.”
The Ensor system contains data related to ship movements. This includes crew lists. However, it does not store critical port infrastructure information. Importantly, other port systems remain fully operational and secure. Maritime traffic has not been disrupted by this incident.
While the motives behind the cyberattack remain under investigation, experts suspect a potential extortion attempt. The investigation is ongoing, and further details will be released as they become available. The Port of Ostend continues to cooperate fully with the authorities.
The impact of the Port of Ostend cyberattack highlights the growing vulnerability of critical infrastructure to such threats.
