FBI, Coast Guard boarded hacked oil tankers heading toward US coast

U.S. Coast Guard and FBI teams boarded two oil tankers in the Gulf of Mexico between Aug. 21 and Aug. 24 after investigators found indications that the vessels’ operational networks had been compromised. One tanker, identified by CBS News as the VL Prosperity, reportedly experienced interference with navigation, propulsion and communications earlier in August while en route from Egypt to the United States.

By AI Newsroom· Reviewed by Pranav, Founder & Editor-in-ChiefPublished about 1 hour agoUpdated about 1 hour ago0 views

FBI, Coast Guard boarded hacked oil tankers heading toward US coast

Why It Matters

The incident highlights growing concerns about cyber vulnerabilities on commercial vessels, where interconnected onboard systems control navigation, propulsion and cargo management. Disruptions to those systems can affect vessel safety, cargo operations and broader supply-chain resilience.

Key Facts

Agencies involved: U.S. Coast Guard and FBI
Boarding dates: Between August 21 and August 24
Location of boarding: Gulf of Mexico
Vessel confirmed by CBS: VL Prosperity (333 meters, capacity over 2 million barrels)
Reported initial compromise date: August 7 (reported by CBS citing Iranian media)

Federal cybersecurity teams from the U.S. Coast Guard and the FBI boarded two oil tankers in the Gulf of Mexico between August 21 and August 24 after receiving indications that the ships’ operational and information-technology networks had been compromised. The agencies said the boarding action aimed to verify the integrity of onboard systems following those indications.

Coast Guard photos shared with CBS News show personnel and FBI agents climbing aboard one of the vessels. The joint statement said the captain, crew and the vessel owner’s onshore staff cooperated with the agencies. The Coast Guard declined further comment beyond the emailed statement and did not name the vessels involved.

CBS News confirmed one of the ships as the VL Prosperity, a 333-meter oil tanker with capacity reported at more than 2 million barrels; VesselFinder lists the tanker as currently located in the Gulf of Mexico. Citing Iranian media, CBS reported that hackers compromised that ship on August 7 while it was sailing from Egypt to the United States and that attackers interfered with the tanker’s speed and fuel systems and caused a communications outage lasting more than a day.

The joint FBI–Coast Guard statement said there were no reports of operational disruptions, vessel instability, physical danger to crews, or environmental impacts. It remains unclear who carried out the intrusions; CBS reported the U.S. is investigating whether Iran was behind the hacking, and noted recent attacks attributed to Iranian-linked actors against U.S. targets in other reporting.