Software is required to run the engine from GPS to chart display information.
An added incentive for hackers to target the shipping industry is the fact that ships move valuable cargo on a daily basis.
"While all this happens, we have seen how the shipping industry has remained relatively unprepared. Just a few days back, the security firm Cyberkeel checked the email activity of a shipping firm and was shocked at what it saw," reported ejinsight of Hong Kong.
Co-founder of Cyberkeel, Lars Jensen, explained that someone had hacked into the systems of the company and planted a small virus. In so doing, they could then monitor all the emails to and from people in the finance department.
"The shipping industry needs to protect itself better against hackers - the fraud case dealt with by CyberKeel was just another example," Mr Jensen was quoted as saying. "In June, we saw how NotPetya ransomware created havoc and one of the hardest hit was Maersk."
According to Maersk, the total cost of dealing with the ransomware was US$300 million.
The consequences of a NotPetya cyberattack on the Maersk resulted in a shutdown of their port terminals. "Today, shipping companies realise that NotPetya's attacks on Maersk have pushed these companies against the wall," according to the ejinsight article.
"The shipping industry has finally woken up to the harsh reality that their operation is vulnerable to digital disruption," it said.
Ships with more computers are potentially vulnerable, and it's a great cause for alarm. Malware and ransomware are designed in a way that it spreads from one computer to another on a network.
"We know a cargo container, for example, where the switchboard shuts down after ransomware found its way on the vessel," says Patrick Rossi, who works within the ethical hacking group at independent advisory organisation DNV GL.
The shipping industry, like many others, has a lot of work to do when it comes to preventing cyber attacks. The UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has introduced certain guidelines to educate ship owners about the vulnerability.