FBI and Coast Guard Board Oil Tankers After Cyberattack

The investigation focused on two vessels, including the 333-meter VL Prosperity, which is capable of transporting over 2 million barrels of oil. Reports suggest the breach occurred on August 7 during a voyage from Egypt to the United States. During this period, the tanker experienced a complete loss of communication for more than 24 hours while hackers reportedly manipulated its speed and fuel management systems.

Authorities are currently examining potential links to Iran, a state actor recently implicated in a series of digital incursions targeting American infrastructure, including water facilities and public transit systems. Despite the severity of the intrusion, the joint FBI and Coast Guard assessment confirmed no physical harm to crews or environmental damage. The vessel's operators and crew cooperated fully with the federal authorities during the inspection to verify that the ship's internal networks had been purged of unauthorized access.