Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries denies cybersecurity risk to US ports.
- US congressional committees questioned ZPMC’s work on cranes bound for the United States.
Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) has refuted claims of posing a cybersecurity threat to US ports. The Chinese state-owned company addressed concerns raised by US congressional committees regarding its installation of ABB equipment onto ship-to-shore cranes bound for the United States. Despite invitations to ABB executives to clarify the relationship, ZPMC emphasized that their cranes do not pose any cybersecurity risks to the ports. ABB, a Swiss engineering group, confirmed that their control and electrification equipment was sold to various crane manufacturers, including Chinese companies like ZPMC, who directly supplied cranes to US ports.
The ongoing tensions between the US and China, the two largest economies globally, have frequently involved accusations of cyberattacks and industrial espionage. The US government has previously disrupted Chinese cyber-spying operations and has been investigating potential national security risks in Chinese imports. ZPMC highlighted that the cranes they supply are used worldwide, including in the United States, and comply with international standards and applicable laws and regulations.
Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries, listed on the Shanghai stock exchange, is a prominent port machinery manufacturer with a fleet of over 20 transportation vessels. ABB, on the other hand, garners a significant portion of its sales from China, second only to the US market. The denial by ZPMC and the reassurance of compliance with legal and regulatory standards aim to mitigate concerns surrounding cybersecurity risks associated with the company’s cranes.
