Duval Times

Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Carlos Gimenez have expressed concerns regarding the presence of communication equipment on cranes manufactured by Chinese state-owned companies at U.S. ports. In a letter to Maritime Administration Administrator Rear Admiral Ann C. Phillips, they requested a delinquent report mandated by the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The report, addressing cybersecurity and national security threats posed by foreign-manufactured cranes, was due in December 2023 but has not yet been received.

The letter states: "We are writing to request the status of a study and report required in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that addresses the cybersecurity and national security threats posed by foreign-manufactured cranes at United States ports, as outlined in Section 3529 of the Act. The results of the study were due to Congress in December 2023, yet have not been received as of today."

Concerns have grown following reports about communication equipment on cranes from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company Limited (ZPMC), which were installed at U.S. ports. This follows an FBI discovery in 2021 of intelligence-gathering equipment on a ship transporting cranes into Baltimore port.

The letter highlights: "This surreptitiously installed communication equipment potentially jeopardizes critical U.S. infrastructure and presents a serious threat to national security."

Recent incidents like the collision involving MV Dali and Francis Scott Key Bridge underscore vulnerabilities in port infrastructure. The lawmakers stress that understanding technology embedded within these cranes is crucial for national security.

"We in Congress are working to ensure we continually fight to safeguard Americans from our dangerous foreign adversaries," they wrote, referencing the Port Crane Security and Inspection Act of 2023 introduced by Rep. Gimenez.

The lawmakers criticized the Maritime Administration for failing to meet its deadline: "Safeguarding critical infrastructure from threats posed by foreign adversaries and securing the nation’s supply chains are of utmost importance... this mandatory report is now six months delinquent."

They concluded with a request for an update on the progress of the study mandated by Section 3529 of FY2023 NDAA and any relevant developments.

"Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter," they added.

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