Critical Infrastructure

Critical infrastructure is the set of assets, systems, and networks whose disruption would damage national security, the economy, public health, or safety. Ports, vessel traffic services, and shipping logistics are designated critical in most national frameworks: the US lists Transportation Systems among 16 critical-infrastructure sectors under Presidential Policy Directive 21 (2013), and the EU classes maritime and port operators as essential entities. That designation pulls maritime operators into stricter cyber regimes such as the EU NIS2 Directive and US CISA guidance, on top of IMO Resolution MSC.428(98) cyber-risk-in-the-SMS obligations.