Port battle in cyber challenge

A Cork university put Ireland’s ports to the test recently in a Cybersecurity Smart Maritime Challenge.

MTU hosted this year’s challenge in collaboration with Cyber Innovate, the Irish Naval Service and the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI).

The event took place in the Cybersecurity Prototyping Lab in MTU’s Bishopstown Campus in Cork, showcasing how Ireland’s ports and harbours can be defended against evolving cyber threats.

For centuries, Cork has been a safe harbour from storms, rough seas and pirates. In 2025, the definition of a safe harbour has expanded to include protection from digital attacks. This shift was brought into sharp focus during a live cybersecurity simulation, conducted using MTU’s state-of-the-art Cyber Range infrastructure.

The simulation, designed by Airbus, mirrored a real-world cyberattack on a maritime port. In the exercise, a hacker group paralysed a port’s IT systems and disabled a ship at its entrance, effectively blocking all traffic. Four teams took part, featuring staff from the Irish Naval Service and the NMCI, alongside MTU researchers and students from Cyber Innovate. They were tasked with identifying the points of attack, regaining control of the vessel, and supporting Europol in apprehending the hacker group’s leader.

Dr Hazel Murray, Chair of Cybersecurity at Munster Technological University, said: “This collaboration between the Irish Navy, NMCI, maritime experts and cybersecurity specialists is essential to safeguarding Ireland’s national security. This challenge highlights both the scale of the threat and the strength of the talent we are building in Ireland. Preparing for cybersecurity shock events before they happen is the only way to ensure our ports and maritime infrastructure remain resilient in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.”

MTU runs multiple programmes and initiatives, including Cyber Innovate, Cyber Skills, Cyber Explore, Cyber Resilience, Cyber Safety and Cyber Futures. It also hosts the Cyber Range, a cutting-edge platform unique in Ireland. This allows simulated cyberattacks on virtual organisations in a safe environment.

“At MTU, we are dedicated to advancing cybersecurity through cutting-edge education and research,” said Dr George O’Mahony of MTU.

“This state-of-the-art facility provides invaluable training for students, researchers and industry professionals, allowing them to build critical skills without risking real-world damage or outages,” he added.