Vivit Africa LNG diverted to Spain following suspected cyberattack

The Vivit Africa LNG, a Liberian-flagged vessel owned by South Korea’s H-Line Shipping and chartered by Vitol, was reportedly diverted to Spain following a suspected cyberattack. The vessel had loaded liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the Cameron LNG terminal in Louisiana and was en route to the Adriatic LNG terminal near Rovigo, Italy.

According to crew reports shared with the Korean Register, attackers allegedly gained temporary control of internal systems while passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, specifically targeting steam pressure and safety valves. During navigation in the Adriatic, systems controlling tank pressure and safety valves were also reportedly compromised.

The resulting malfunctions forced the ship to remain stationary off the Italian coast without discharging its cargo. The crew eventually abandoned the original destination and reversed course toward Algeciras, Spain. The incident highlights growing cybersecurity risks to maritime digital systems, particularly those managing cargo and vessel safety.