Espionage Probe has made a shocking discovery that holds significant implications for cargo cranes in the United States.
A recent congressional probe has shed light on an unsettling discovery. Some of these cranes, built by the Chinese manufacturer ZPMC, which dominates about 80% of the ship-to-shore crane market in U.S. ports, have been found to contain communications equipment that doesn’t quite add up to what’s needed for normal operations. What’s more intriguing—or alarming, depending on how you see it—are the cellular modems installed within some of these cranes, raising the specter of remote access and, potentially, espionage.
These revelations have not only added fuel to the ongoing concerns in Washington regarding port security and the broader implications of Chinese infrastructure within the U.S., but have also highlighted a critical oversight in how such equipment is vetted and monitored. The Pentagon and intelligence officials are increasingly worried about the possibility that these cranes could be used for disruption and espionage activities by a foreign power, specifically China.
Representative Mark Green, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has been vocal about the risks posed by these foreign-made cranes. He pointed out that the U.S. has been overlooking a significant threat by allowing these Chinese cranes to operate within critical infrastructure, particularly in the maritime sector.
This issue isn’t just about the hardware. Over a dozen cellular modems were discovered in one port alone, with another found in a server room—some of which had active connections to the cranes’ operational components. While it’s common for modems to be used for monitoring crane operations and maintenance remotely, the mystery deepens as some ports reported they hadn’t requested this capability.
The Chinese embassy and ZPMC have largely dismissed these concerns as paranoia, framing them as an unjust obstruction to economic and trade cooperation. Yet, this hasn’t stopped the Biden administration from taking decisive action. In a bold move to secure the nation’s ports, the administration announced a $20 billion investment to replace these foreign-built cranes with ones manufactured in the U.S., marking a significant shift towards revitalizing domestic production capabilities.
Additionally, the administration is ramping up maritime cybersecurity measures to combat the potential threat of Chinese hackers, who might exploit these vulnerabilities to disrupt critical infrastructure, especially in tense geopolitical situations like a possible conflict over Taiwan.
This issue extends beyond the U.S. shores, with other countries like Finland, now a NATO member, seeking to strengthen their maritime industry amid growing concerns over Chinese technology and its implications for global security.
