Los Angeles Port Head Raises Alarm Over Security Threat From Chinese Cranes

The executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, Gene Seroka, expressed concerns about the possible threat to national security posed by Chinese-made cranes working at U.S. ports in a recent interview on Bloomberg Television’s Surveillance. They’re collecting data and seeking information, said Seroka, underscoring the importance of data collection and exploitation. The question is what they’re doing with that data.

These concerns are shared by the Biden administration, especially about the more than 200 Chinese-manufactured ship-to-shore cranes that can be remotely programmed and repaired. ZPMC, often called Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., is the world market leader for these gantry cranes necessary for loading and unloading cargo ships. Seroka asked, “It is a risk, but who else makes the cranes?” while acknowledging the security concern and highlighting the difficulty in finding alternative manufacturers.

During a routine news briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning quickly refuted claims of security threats, calling them “completely absurd”. Mao claimed that the United States was unjustly targeting Chinese goods and businesses and criticized the country for exaggerating the meaning of national security.

A U.S.-based subsidiary of the major Japanese manufacturing company Mitsui E&S Co. is considering increasing domestic crane production in the face of these security concerns. This action aligns with plans to access the $20 billion set aside in legislation signed by President Joe Biden to develop port infrastructure. Mitsui E&S’s shares sharply increased following the announcement, rising by about 26% in Tokyo trading.

The security implications of cranes manufactured in China present a dilemma for maritime sector players, who must strike a balance between the need for security and the realities of supply chain dynamics and infrastructure growth.

Reference: Bloomberg

Los Angeles Port Head Raises Alarm Over Security Threat From Chinese Cranes appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News