US Coast Guard and FBI board oil tanker near Galveston to probe cyber intrusion
US Coast Guard personnel and FBI agents boarded the foreign-flagged VL Prosperity off Galveston on Aug. 21 to investigate a suspected overseas cyberattack.
On Aug. 21, US Coast Guard members and FBI agents boarded the VL Prosperity, a foreign-flagged very large crude carrier heading for Texas, after intelligence indicated a cyber intrusion by overseas actors. The ship was located near Galveston, Texas, and its captain, crew and on-shore personnel assisted the investigation. Officials confirmed that the incident caused no disruption to the vessel’s operations and no one was injured.
The Coast Guard is maintaining communication with port authorities and maritime stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted port activity. Earlier reports from Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency said the tanker experienced a 30-hour communications outage in the Strait of Gibraltar, suggesting the attack may have originated there. The investigation remains ongoing.
Why it matters
The incident highlights vulnerabilities in maritime cyber-security and the need for coordinated response to protect global oil transport.
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