China-Backed Logistics Management Platform Poses Cyber Risks, Maritime Administration Advisory Says

The Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration has warned maritime stakeholders of the cyber risks posed by a logistics management platform backed by the Chinese government to maritime port equipment and networks.

According to a new maritime security advisory, the National Public Information Platform for Transportation and Logistics platform, subsidized and promoted by China’s Ministry of Transport,  aggregates logistics data from various sources, including domestic and foreign ports, foreign logistics networks and other public databases. 

The advisory was released following a report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Commission identifying LOGINK as a threat to the U.S., citing plans of the Chinese Communist Party to use the platform to get a clearer picture of global shipping routes and commerce. The USCC said China’s goal is to become a transportation superpower to have substantial control or influence over the physical movement of goods worldwide. 

The advisory also highlighted the risks associated with Nuctech’s data-centric security inspection equipment. Nuctech, a China state-owned enterprise, offers x-ray scanners, explosives detection capabilities and facial recognition systems, among other technologies. The products were identified as low-performing equipment which, when employed, can undermine efforts to counter illicit international trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive materials, the Maritime Administration said.