The Indian Navy on Thursday organised a high-level seminar on “Impact of Cyber Attacks on Maritime Sector and Its Effects on National Security and International Relations” at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi, highlighting the growing importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding critical maritime infrastructure.
The event brought together senior government officials, defence leaders, industry experts, and cybersecurity professionals to enhance awareness of emerging digital threats in the maritime domain and to strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi welcomed the Chief Guest, Minister of State for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Commerce & Industry Jitin Prasada. Delivering the keynote address, Prasada underscored the need for a robust and resilient maritime cyber defence architecture to secure India’s maritime interests.
In his remarks, Admiral Tripathi highlighted the government’s emphasis on the maritime sector as a key pillar of India’s economic and security strategy. He noted that under the vision of “Samudra se Samriddhi”, initiatives such as Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, Sagarmala, and PM Gati Shakti are driving growth. He stressed that cybersecurity must be integrated into maritime systems from the design stage and that closer coordination between stakeholders is crucial for rapid information sharing and threat mitigation.
The seminar featured three panel discussions led by experts from key organisations including the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, National Security Council Secretariat, Gas Authority of India Limited, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre, and the National Maritime Foundation. Industry leaders from the private sector also participated.
The discussions focused on global cyber threats to maritime infrastructure, strengthening civil-military cooperation, and the recognition of the maritime sector as an independent Critical Information Infrastructure (CII).
On the sidelines, a tech exhibition was held in partnership with the Data Security Council of India, showcasing indigenous cybersecurity and defence technology innovations by start-ups. The exhibition aligned with the vision of Aatmanirbharta and Viksit Bharat 2047.
The seminar concluded with the identification of key vulnerabilities within the maritime digital ecosystem and the formulation of mitigation strategies aimed at strengthening cyber resilience.
