In August, the Port of Los Angeles fended off upwards of 120 million hacking attempts, underscoring a constant risk to operations as tariff policies evolve. Executive Director Gene Seroka told Bloomberg Television the port confronts a range of threats, including attempts at intrusion, network exploitation, credential harvesting and the use of malware. "All they have to do is to get it right one time," Seroka said. "This is front of mind every day."
Seroka said the port's cybersecurity operations team, working in tandem with private-sector partners, has built a seven-layer digital defense around port operations. His remarks followed disclosures that American government agencies are tracking cyber threats targeting nearly 20 ships worldwide. Maritime attacks have climbed as vessels lean more on digital tools for navigation, communications and other critical functions.
Shifts in trade flows and policy are changing the port's mix. Over the last 18 months, cargo tied to Southeast Asia has grown, while China's portion of overall business has dropped to 40% from 60% over the same decade-long stretch. Vietnam's trade with the port has jumped fourfold over that period.
Security risks near the Suez and weather issues near the Panama Canal are steering ships away from those routes. With water levels down in the Panama Canal, some Asia-based carriers are offloading on the US west coast and trucking goods to east coast markets. The port just wrapped its busiest June through August on record, and Seroka said restrictions at the Panama Canal could add another 5% to 10% to volumes as cargo is rerouted.
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More ships at Los Angeles and a steady drumbeat of cyber threats both point to a supply chain that is busy and brittle at the same time. If you rely on physical goods to run your business or fill your home, the path those products take could keep changing in real time.
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