According to recent analysis by Willis Group of 49 maritime transport companies’ 2014 annual reports, just 22% identified cybercrime as a potential risk.

This is a huge mistake. Shipping has yet to grasp the severity that cybercrime poses.

To give you an idea of the scale of the scourge, the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) published a recent report in which it estimated online crime now equates to 0.8% of global GDP, similar to the provisions that macro-economists make for the annual cost of standard business crimes.

At October’s Danish Maritime Forum cyber risks were discussed in a breakout session on maritime security. Part of the problem with defeating cybercrime is that companies are unwilling to share their problems.

“On the cyber side this industry is not just an unlocked door, it is leaving it wide open,” commented a Danish national who runs a counter cybercrime firm.

The head of an African nation’s maritime authority called for the International Maritime Organization to come up with some form of cyber security information sharing regulations.

“Trust and information sharing will never happen between companies because they are competitors,” stressed the head of a leading Middle Eastern chemical tanker company. His solution was to get the various shipping associations to handle this, a view many attending the debate agreed on. Another shipowner suggested it was up to flag states to take the lead.

Just about all present were in agreement that the best way to fight cybercrime was together – an illustrator on hand picturing it as an umbrella to fight the crime storm.

The most recent poll carried by Maritime CEO shows that fully 88% of readers believe shipping lines should be sharing more information about cybercrime attacks.

“Far more transparency and overall data collection is needed. The industry is just out of date. They live by hiding the facts,” one respondent commented.

“Just like maritime accident reporting and piracy/armed robbery at sea incidents, shipping generally reluctant to air their dirty laundry by sharing information on what may be perceived as an issue that may lead to insurance premium rises or failing to be covered by insurance due to training or personnel mistakes. Unfortunately, transparency remains a problem within the shipping world,” argued another reader.