MTU hosts Simulated Maritime Cyber Attack team exercise in collaboration with the Irish Naval Service and the NMCI.

For centuries, Cork has been a safe harbour from storms, rough seas, and pirates. However, in 2024, the concept of a safe harbour has evolved. This was evident on Friday during the MTU Smart Maritime Cybersecurity Challenge, where the focus shifted to defending Ireland’s harbours and ports against cyber threats. The event featured a cyber attack simulation on a virtualised maritime port, hosted in MTU’s new Cyber Security Lab and conducted on its state-of-the-art cyber range infrastructure.

The simulation, designed by Airbus, mirrored a real-world cyber attack, paralysing a port’s IT systems and a ship at its entrance, effectively blocking all traffic. Teams from the Irish Naval Service, National Maritime College, MTU, Cyber Innovate, and WorldSkills Ireland National Champions competed to identify the cyber attack's entry points, regain control of the vessel and assist Europol in arresting the hacker group's leader.

The Need for Maritime Cybersecurity Skills:
Irish ports are vital hubs for shipping and maritime operations, making skills in maritime cybersecurity essential to future-proof Ireland’s infrastructure. The simulated cyber attack provided an invaluable opportunity to build real-world, applicable skills to address these growing threats.

MTU Leading the Way in Cybersecurity Training:
The MTU Smart Maritime Cybersecurity Challenge was held in MTU’s new Cyber Security Lab, which was visited last week by Tánaiste Micheál Martin as part of the Ireland-Wales Forum 2024. Six teams competed, each featuring MTU staff, researchers, and students. “Hosting the MTU Smart Maritime Cybersecurity Challenge in our new Cyber Security Lab showcased the strength of our programmes and the exceptional talent emerging from Cork,” said Dr. Donna O’Shea, Chair of Cybersecurity at Munster Technological University (MTU). As a leader in cybersecurity education, MTU runs initiatives such as Cyber Skills, Cyber Explore, and the €7M Cyber Innovate project. Cork’s reputation as Ireland's cyber security hub is bolstered by MTU’s graduates, a key reason why many national and international
companies have established a presence in the region.

MTU also features the Cyber Range, a state-of-the-art platform unique in Ireland, which enables simulated cyber-attacks on virtual organisations. “At MTU, we are dedicated to advancing cyber security through cutting-edge education and research.” said Dr. George O’Mahony from MTU “This cutting-edge facility provides invaluable training for students, researchers, and industry professionals, allowing them to build critical skills without risking real-world damage or outages.”
Dr. O’Mahony used the Cyber Range to train and mentor the Irish cybersecurity team that won Gold at the WorldSkills Global Skills Challenge 2024.

Event Highlights:

The MTU Smart Maritime Cybersecurity Challenge provided a powerful demonstration of the importance of cybersecurity in Ireland’s maritime sector.
The winning team comprised a mixture of Naval service, MTU student, NMCI staff and Cyber Innovate scholars. Stephanie Wallace Chavanne, Harry Dunne, Oskar Wolak, George O’Mahony, Tim McSweeney, Wiktor Owczarek and David Dennehy
The Maritime Challenge is part of an event in the lead up to the Smart Maritime & Offshore Wind Event on the 11th of November at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Cork. The event will start at 9:30am. Register now.