In a 4PL setup, sea freight logistics is a vital part of the broader supply chain management solution as it represents the longest leg of a product’s journey through the supply chain. Presently, the involvement of various autonomous actors in the maritime logistics industry, such as agents, terminal operators, port authorities, shipping companies, shippers, financial institutions, and customs authorities, forms the self-organised maritime practice where each actor using different infrastructures and IT systems creates a complex interconnected ecosystem that makes standardised interactions and collaboration among actors difficult. Moreover, freight management can be quite a complicated procedure as it enables services such as the selection of the carriers, diverse transportation modes, route planning, warehouse management, cargo insurance, containerization, customs clearance, documentation, management of port operations, etc.

Shipping companies, port authorities and maritime stakeholders have been subjected to highly complex and new classes of cyber-attacks targeting in-port information systems and inflicting damage on on-vessel core equipment. A cyberattack on the maritime industry can have significant and wide-ranging impacts, given the industry’s reliance on interconnected technologies and systems. Cyber-attacks could disrupt the transportation of goods, leading to delays and shortages, impacting various industries worldwide. Moreover, a cyber-attack on key port infrastructure (e.g., Hormuz port, May 2020) or vessels (e.g., South Korea carrier HMM, June 2021) could have broader national security implications, especially if it is orchestrated by a state actor or has geopolitical motivations. Tampering with navigation systems or communication channels could lead to accidents, collisions, or groundings, posing serious safety risks for vessels at sea.

The object and area of investigation is the longest part of a product’s journey and starts with the selection of the carrier, the cargo management (bulk or containerized) during the transportation process, the real-time tracking of the vessel, and the interaction with the port authorities. The examined sub-process of the sea freight forwarding incorporates advanced technologies (Industry 4.0) of the maritime industry along with the interconnected digital infrastructures of the various stakeholders. The goal of this study is to ensure the seamless and secure flow of goods and finally eliminate the risk of external interference and disruption of key operating systems and their interdependencies both at the vessel and port level