A discrete event simulation-based approach for managing cyber vulnerabilities in a full-service deep waterway port

Abstract

Deepwater sea ports are considered to be gateways for global trade and susceptible to a diverse range of risks, including natural disasters such as hurricane, storm, drought, as well as a course of events ranging from human error to malicious cyber-attack. To deal with cyber vulnerabilities, this study examines how cyber-attack to a given technology (e.g., Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Radio Frequency Identification Tags (RFID), Navigation Technologies, and others) impacts the overall port operations. We use Port of Pascagoula as testbed to visualize and validate the modeling results utilizing FlexSim software. Several sets of experiments are conducted to provide important managerial insights for decision makers. Results indicate that cyber-attack on technologies used by the port may significantly impact the port operations. In overall, cyber-attack has meaningful impacts on ports systems that may result in significant economic and operational loss as well as long-term security and sustainability for overall ports performances