A recent congressional investigation has revealed that certain Chinese-manufactured cranes deployed at US ports are equipped with communications equipment whose purpose and installation records remain unclear. This discovery is expected to escalate US apprehensions regarding the potential surveillance or sabotage capabilities of these cranes.

The House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Select Committee on China conducted an investigation concentrating on over 200 Chinese-manufactured cranes situated at US ports and associated facilities.

This inquiry coincides with escalated tensions between the US and China concerning national security. Additionally, last month, the Coast Guard instructed ports to enhance security measures for the Chinese-made cranes.

According to a congressional aide familiar with the investigation, House lawmakers discovered that the cellular modems, capable of remote communication, installed on the cranes were not listed in any contracts between US ports and Chinese crane manufacturer, ZPMC. During inspections conducted by US port personnel in China, it was found that the modems had already been installed on the cranes.

The aide disclosed that the modems were discovered "on more than one occasion" on the ZPMC cranes. Rep. Mark Green, the Republican chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, stated in a statement to CNN that their investigation unveiled vulnerabilities in cranes at US ports.

These vulnerabilities could potentially enable the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to engage in espionage, undermine trade competitors, and disrupt supply chains and cargo movement, posing a significant threat to the nation's economy.

"Without a rapid transformation, we will persist in providing the CCP with a straightforward method of infiltrating our vital infrastructure in their pursuit of global supremacy."

In a statement posted on its website, ZPMC stated that it "has always been dedicated to delivering high-quality products and services to clients globally." The company affirmed its strict adherence to the laws and regulations of relevant countries.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, informed CNN that assertions regarding security risks associated with Chinese-made cranes are dismissed as "entirely paranoia."

Liu stated, "We firmly oppose the US overstretching the concept of national security and abusing national power to obstruct normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the US." The Wall Street Journal initially disclosed the findings of the congressional probe.

Ship-to-shore cranes are vital for handling goods in US maritime ports, which drive trillions of dollars in economic activity annually. Chinese-made cranes make up around 80% of those used in US ports, as per the Coast Guard. These cranes can be controlled remotely, posing potential risks such as espionage or equipment disruptions if accessed by hackers.

The Biden government wants to spend $20 billion on new American-made port equipment, including safer cranes. These cranes, which are used to move goods, are important for the economy.

A cyber expert named Marco Ayala says that many machines in ports and oil and gas industries have devices for remote control, but they're not always well documented. This makes them easy targets for hackers. Ayala says that putting these devices in crane systems bypasses the usual security, so experts are working to make ports safer.

Image source: Daily Mail News