CHINA's leading ship-to-shore crane maker has pressured US port customers to allow remote monitoring of cranes that contained pre-installed cellular modems, according to a new Congressional report, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.
The report aims to bolster the case for heightened cyber-security efforts at US ports, which the congressmen who authored the report say are vulnerable to Chinese espionage.
House Republicans Mark Green of Tennessee, Carlos Gimenez of Florida and John Moolenaar of Michigan, who are members of various committees charged with homeland and maritime security, issued a joint report about the heavy reliance of US ports on cranes manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), which has a nearly 80 per cent market share of US ship-to-shore cranes.
The report said US ports and terminal operators are 'pressured' by zpmc to provide remote access to the company's cranes after purchase. Not allowing remote access to the cranes, which is ostensibly aimed at providing diagnostics for maintenance, 'is difficult for customers who are looking to get the lowest price or guarantee a robust warranty policy,' the report said.
ZPMC 'has repeatedly requested remote access to its STS cranes operating at various US ports, with a particular focus on those located on the west coast,' the report said, noting west coast ports would play a vital role in supplying Taiwan if a conflict breaks out with China.
ZPMC cranes also typically come pre-installed with cellular modems for collecting usage data, the report said. The modems are even installed when a customer declines remote diagnostic and monitoring services as part of their procurement contract, the report explained, adding that ZPMC itself claims it does not install the modems.
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The report aims to bolster the case for heightened cyber-security efforts at US ports, which the congressmen who authored the report say are vulnerable to Chinese espionage.
House Republicans Mark Green of Tennessee, Carlos Gimenez of Florida and John Moolenaar of Michigan, who are members of various committees charged with homeland and maritime security, issued a joint report about the heavy reliance of US ports on cranes manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), which has a nearly 80 per cent market share of US ship-to-shore cranes.
The report said US ports and terminal operators are 'pressured' by zpmc to provide remote access to the company's cranes after purchase. Not allowing remote access to the cranes, which is ostensibly aimed at providing diagnostics for maintenance, 'is difficult for customers who are looking to get the lowest price or guarantee a robust warranty policy,' the report said.
ZPMC 'has repeatedly requested remote access to its STS cranes operating at various US ports, with a particular focus on those located on the west coast,' the report said, noting west coast ports would play a vital role in supplying Taiwan if a conflict breaks out with China.
ZPMC cranes also typically come pre-installed with cellular modems for collecting usage data, the report said. The modems are even installed when a customer declines remote diagnostic and monitoring services as part of their procurement contract, the report explained, adding that ZPMC itself claims it does not install the modems.
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