Coast Guard and FBI Investigate Cyberattack on Oil Tanker Bound for Texas

Coast Guard and FBI board oil tanker in cyberattack probe. Vessel's systems under scrutiny as U.S. remains silent on suspect.

Editorial Desk

September 16, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — Federal authorities conducted a cybersecurity inspection of a commercial oil tanker heading to Texas after identifying potential threats to its network during its journey across the Atlantic, according to the Coast Guard.

The operation took place on August 21 when a joint team from the Coast Guard and FBI boarded a foreign-flagged vessel to assess both its operational and information technology systems. The crew and corporate operators were involved in the investigation to mitigate any possible threat.

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The Coast Guard confirmed no immediate risks to the ship’s operations, crew safety, or environment. While the U.S. has not yet identified the source of the breach, Iranian state media reported on the incident, with some outlets suggesting the vessel was targeted by hackers who allegedly interfered with critical systems.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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