How the coronavirus is forcing the shipping industry to make cybersecurity a priority

Ships plying the world’s oceans play a crucial role in overcoming supply chain bottlenecks stopping the flow of food and medical equipment

The pandemic is pushing firms to innovate and find ways to remotely perform audits, inspections and other tasks typically done in person

3-MIN READ3-MIN

An empty shipping dock is seen at the Port of Los Angeles, California, on April 16, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect trade. Photo: Reuters

Parag KhannaandMikhail Zeldovich

Published: 1:00am, 18 Jun 2020Updated: 2:34am, 18 Jun 2020

As global society locked itself down, the view took hold in recent months that simultaneous supply and demand shocks meant the idling of global aviation and most shipping vessels. The dominant story of oil prices briefly turning negative added to the impression that transport and global trade were largely standing still.

However, the ships plying the world’s oceans play a crucial role in overcoming supply chain bottlenecks in food and medical equipment that have left billions of people in limbo. As we rebuild the architecture of global logistics, securing these essential carriers of humanity’s means of survival should be a top priority.

The paradox of Covid-19 was most apparent in the global shipping industry, with the possible exception of commercial aviation.

A quarantined labour force created human resource shortages in one of the most essential activities – moving necessary commodities and goods around the world. As such, the discrepancy between concerns about security for Zoom calls and inattention to maritime security standards is ironic.