According to the United States Coast Guard, there were over 500 major operational cyber-attacks that occurred in the marine industry in 2020, directly affecting the 25,000 miles of navigable channels in the U.S.

Recognizing the severity of the issue and that cargo activities at U.S. seaports account for 26 percent of the U.S. economy, the Maritime Transportation System Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MTS-ISAC) was formed to combat the rising threat from these bad actors.

According to the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association(PNWA), the Columbia Snake River System is responsible for transporting more than 50 million tons of cargo, annually.

To address the cybersecurity issue among ports located along the Lower Columbia River, the Port of Vancouver USA and the Maritime Transportation System Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MTS-ISAC) have successfully launched the Lower Columbia River Maritime Information Exchange (LCR-MIX).

The primary mission of the LCR-MIX is to enhance communication and collaboration on cyber threat activity among regional stakeholders and to provide early situational awareness and best practice adoption to prevent incidents.

The MTS-ISAC, a nonprofit formed in February 2020, has seen rapid adoption of its Cybersecurity Information Sharing Services. The LCR-MIX is the sixth cybersecurity Information Exchange of eight to launch since the inception of this program in early 2021.

About Port of Vancouver USA

Strategically located at a major nexus of ocean and river shipping lanes, two interstate highways, and a continent-spanning rail network, the Port of Vancouver USA is a dynamic hub of global trade and the multipurpose port authority for Vancouver, Washington. Established in 1912, the Port of Vancouver USA is a leader in marine and industrial business.

The ideal gateway for connecting Asia and South America to the US midcontinent and Canada, the port handles more than 7 million tons of cargo each year, including wheat, mineral and liquid bulks, vehicles, and a broad range of project cargo.

About MTS-ISAC

The Maritime Transportation System Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MTS-ISAC) promotes and facilitates maritime cybersecurity information sharing, awareness, training, and collaboration efforts between private and public sector stakeholders. Its mission is to effectively reduce cyber risk across the MTS community through improved identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery efforts.