superyacht times news

Passion is no longer enough to attract talent

The industry must adopt comprehensive and cohesive strategies that transcend traditional practices to secure its future, says MB92 Group

Fincantieri raises €396 million

The Italian shipbuilding giant has successfully concluded a substantial capital increase option through an offering on Euronext Milan  

Have a safe flight

An opinion piece on the importance of incorporating a comprehensive programme for helicopter operations ­to ensure safety for all on board…

New-build market to continue billion euro growth

The new build boom spurred the turnover of the new build sector to highs of €33 billion in 2022, with experts forecasting more growth…

The Superyacht Forum: focused on the future

The redesigned superyacht conference in Amsterdam will bring together senior professionals with an agenda aimed at shaping the industry’s future…

Maritime communications and autonomous networks

An opinion piece on the impact of telcos’ move to hybrid connectivity…

VIRSEC launches battery fire awareness course

As lithium-ion batteries become prevalent, mitigating risks through informed crew training, like the VIRSEC ABS-approved course, is crucial…

Nuclear-powered yachts: a viable option towards achieving net-zero emissions?

Imagine a very large yacht capable of cruising the world non-stop without refuelling or requiring an expensive chase boat. Could this become a reality?

Building the next generation

Pendennis has been running an apprenticeship scheme for over 25 years, forming the bedrock of its experienced team of employees…

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Island Capital moves to buy back IGY

Andrew Farkas has written a letter to MarineMax shareholders proposing to purchase IGY Marinas, N&J, and Fraser  

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SuperyachtIndex Press releases

Wavefront announces shipment of first batch of vigilant fls® 600.

Wavefront, a leader in innovative sonar technology, is thrilled to announce the shipment of the first batch of its highly anticipated Vigilant FLS® 600. This latest addition to the Vigilant family of forward looking sonars will see the first units ins

OYS Congratulate Service Agent Marine Results on 20th Anniversary Year

It’s 2003 and professional sailors Ed Danby and Ben Wood decided to turn their hand to rigging and were the founding owners of Marine Results, later to be joined by Jon Morris. Just down the road was a rigging company gaining traction in the market

Superyacht Management Operations: How Robust Is Your Setup?

Aside from the obvious 24-hour nature of yachting, Mast Security explains that there are clear legal requirements for those operating a yacht to have procedures in place to ensure that any emergency, whether safety or security-related, is responded to pro

Crew arrested on arson charges in Greece

A superyacht crew will appear in a Greek court on arson charges after allegedly causing a wildfire on the island of Hydra

To Tranquility and beyond

Shipyards always aim to use the latest technology during a new-build project, so what happens to Oceanco vessels when they are ready for a transformation?

Fleet Sponsored Content

Project 713 makes a splash

Launch of first Feadship yacht to carry solar cells for auxiliary power generation

M/Y Thanuja – rebuild or new build?

Classification society recognises 50-metre refit as equivalent to a new build

Activists attack again

Rising Sun and Lion have been doused in black paint in Barcelona’s Port Vell, just months after the same group carried out similar attacks on Kaos

Fire in Phuket

A 34-metre sailing yacht caught ablaze yesterday whilst it was unmanned and anchored in Thailand

Sanlorenzo launches its first methanol-powered yacht

The highly anticipated 50Steel has hit the water ahead of its delivery in July, featuring new methanol fuel technology and a reimagined engine room layout

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The biggest news stories that shaped the yachting industry in 2023

2023 was a busy year for the yachting sector, with new launches sailing out of the construction sheds and innovations in the path towards more sustainable yachting really taking shape this year. BOAT looks back at the top news stories you may have missed...

Oceanco completes first-of-its-kind rebuild of H3

Dutch shipyard Oceanco made waves with the never-before-seen rebuild of H3 . Formerly the 95-metre Indian Empress , the rebuild saw the yacht extended, restyled and completely transformed from the hull up. The yacht’s completely modern new look and the scope of the work involved was revealed for the first time in the November 2023 edition of BOAT International .

More about this yacht

Savannah hits the market.

Feadship 's 2015-built 83.5-metre Savannah , one of the most iconic yachts in the fleet, was officially announced for sale in September with Edmiston . The yacht is famous for her glossy metallic silhouette and long list of amenities, including a semi-submerged Neptune lounge and an intimate dance room in the bow. Her asking price is undisclosed. 

Yachts for charter

Lammouche and obsidian pioneer use of biofuel.

The 44-metre Sanlorenzo yacht Lammouche marked one of the first yachts to trial HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) in a high-profile experiment that saw the yacht take delivery of 15,000 litres of HVO. Later in the year, it was announced that the brand new 84.2-metre Feadship yacht Obsidian was also switching to biofuel in her generators, making her the first new yacht to trial the alternative fuel source.

US Justice Department seeks to take ownership of 106m Amadea

The saga of arrested Russian yachts continued with 106-metre Amadea this year, when the US Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint that would allow the yacht's ownership to be transferred to US authorities. It came after the yacht was arrested in Fiji and moved to US territory last year. She remains caught in a battle between her owner and the authorities, prompting questions over what will happen to other allegedly Russian-owned superyachts. 

The world’s first fuel-cell superyacht hits the water

German shipbuilding giant Lürssen marked a significant milestone in the path towards sustainable yachting with the launch of 114.2-metre Project Cosmos, the first superyacht fitted with fuel cell technology. Once complete, the yacht will be able to create electricity to power its propulsion through a chemical reaction instead of combustion. The yacht has a huge float-in tender well – similar to the one on Octopus – and her exterior design is by Australian industrialist designer Marc Newson , who also designed the Apple Watch.

Jeff Bezos takes delivery of two yachts

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made international headlines when he took delivery of his superyacht earlier in 2023 (with no bridge dismantling). The 125.9-metre Koru (a word meaning new life, growth and peace in Māori culture) is now the largest sailing yacht in the world (excluding Sailing Yacht A ), as well as the flagship yacht of the Oceanco fleet. The classically-styled schooner was a radical departure from the modern, stealthy-looking superyacht that was expected from the billionaire, with Lateral Naval Architects and Dykstra Naval Architects taking care of her naval architecture and old-school look. Koru is shadowed by the 75-metre Abeona from Damen Yachting .  

93m Mayan Queen rescues migrants from sinking boat

When a migrant boat capsized off Greece's southern Peloponnese peninsula, the 93.5-metre Mayan Queen IV was quick to step in to rescue survivors from the water. Around 100 people were brought to shore and treated for their injuries, although authorities reported at least 78 people drowned in the incident.

€330M Ahpo becomes one of the biggest brokerage deals in history

The 115.1-metre Lürssen superyacht Ahpo changed hands just three months after coming to market. Moran Yacht & Ship represented both parties in the deal, which is believed to be the biggest sale in yachting history. Delivered in 2021, the yacht was asking €330,000,000 at the time of her sale, and was supremely private when she launched. Her new name, Lady Jorgia , was announced during the sale, but is yet to be implemented.

The OceanGate submersible implosion sparks commentary from the industry

The impact of the OceanGate submersible, which imploded in June on a descent to the Titanic killing all five passengers, was felt across the industry. Patrick Lahey, co-founder of Triton Submarines, said he tried to convince his long-time friend and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who was killed in the incident, not to dive with OceanGate. "I tried to do everything I could to discourage him from going out there. I know many people that knew him did the same thing," he said. Rob McCallum, co-founder of EYOS Expeditions, agreed, recalling a dinner with OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush when "I told him in no uncertain terms that he was doing the wrong thing."

Two arrested following vandalism of Kaos

Two people were arrested following the deliberate vandalism of 110-metre Kaos while she was docked in the Balearic islands. A video posted on social media shows two climate activists spray painting the yacht’s stern until port authorities intervened. Kaos sustained no lasting damage, but the incident sent shockwaves through the industry, along with concerns about incidents like these becoming more commonplace.

Abeking & Rasmussen crowns new flagship

One of the most exciting yachts to be delivered in 2023 was Liva O , Abeking ’s new flagship. At 118.2 metres, the inky black yacht underwent specialised laser welding to create her smooth, unbroken, high-gloss finish. Her designer described her as a “monolith” on the water.

Kismet finds new owner and is renamed Whisper

After changing central agencies, the 95-metre Kismet sold in just three months in a deal between Cecil Wright & Partners and Christie Yachts . She was asking €149,000,000 at the time of her sale and has now been renamed Whisper . She was famously built for Shahid Khan, a Pakistani-American businessman and owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and his new yacht, still known as Project Jag , is moving closer to completion.

Kalizma comes under fire

The 50.2-metre superyacht Kalizma came under heavy fire in the Gulf of Aden, with pictures shared with BOAT International showing heavy bullet damage to the interior and exterior of the yacht. The incident was described as a pirate attack by eyewitnesses on board the boat, but a statement by officials claimed the “pirates” were actually Yemeni Coastguard vessels.

Fraser gets new CEO

Anders Kurtén was appointed CEO of leading brokerage firm Fraser in August.  The former CEO of Finnish shipyard Baltic Yachts brings 25 years of experience to his new role.

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July 8, 2024

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To boost ocean research, some scientists are turning to superyachts

by Laurel Chor, Bloomberg News

For almost two years, Robert Brewin collected data from the bow of a superyacht as it sailed pristine waters from the Caribbean Sea to the Antarctic Ocean.

The Archimedes, a 222-foot "adventure" yacht then owned by the late hedge funder James Simons, boasts a gym, a jacuzzi and an elevator. But between 2018 and 2020, Brewin was concerned only with the boat's Sea-Bird Scientific Solar Tracking Aiming System, installed to measure light reflecting off of the water. A senior lecturer at the UK's University of Exeter, Brewin and his colleagues were analyzing microplankton—microscopic organisms at the base of the marine food chain—by studying the ocean's color. The Sea-Bird's readouts helped them verify satellite imagery.

Brewin's was not your typical superyacht itinerary, but he is one of hundreds of scientists to have used an adventure yacht—also known as expedition or explorer yachts—to conduct research on the ocean. In a paper published in Frontiers in Remote Sensing , Brewin and his co-authors touted the potential of "harnessing superyachts" for science, concluding that "reaching out to wealthy citizen scientists may help fill [research capability] gaps."

It's a view shared—and being pushed—by the Yacht Club of Monaco and the Explorers Club, a New York City-based organization focused on exploration and science (of which, full disclosure, I am a member). In March, the groups co-hosted an environmental symposium that included an awards ceremony for yacht owners who "stand out for their commitment to protecting the marine environment ." The Archimedes won a "Science & Discovery" award.

"If a yacht is operating 365 days a year, rather than having it sit idle it'd be much better for it to contribute a positive return through science and conservation," says Rob McCallum, an Explorers Club fellow and founder of US-based EYOS Expeditions, which runs adventure yacht voyages.

EYOS charters yachts from private owners for its excursions, and is a founding member of Yachts for Science, a four-year-old organization that matches privately owned yachts with scientists who need time at sea. (Other members include yacht builder Arksen, media firm BOAT International, and nonprofits Nekton Foundation and Ocean Family Foundation.) Yachts for Science will enable about $1 million worth of donated yacht time this year, McCallum says, a figure he expects to hit $15 million by 2029.

"There's a personal satisfaction that we are contributing to something that is bigger than us," says Tom Peterson, who co-owns an insurance underwriting company in California and has what he jokingly refers to as a "mini superyacht."

Every year for the past decade, Peterson has donated about 15 to 20 days of time and fuel on the 24-meter Valkyrie to scientists, who he takes out himself as a licensed captain and former scuba dive operator. He often works with the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, and allows researchers to stay aboard for days at a time instead of having to constantly make the 1.5-hour trip to and from shore.

To link up with scientists, Peterson works with the International SeaKeepers Society, a Florida-based nonprofit that engages the yachting community to support ocean conservation and research. "The more we understand things about the ocean in general, the better we all are in the long run," he says.

When "superyacht" and "the environment" appear in the same sentence, it's usually in a different context. In 2019, one study estimated that a single 71-meter superyacht has the same annual carbon footprint as about 200 cars. In 2021, another paper found that superyachts were the single greatest contributor to the carbon footprint of 20 of the world's most prominent billionaires, accounting for 64% of their combined emissions.

"If you really want to respect the environment, you can just go surf," says Grégory Salle, a senior researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research and author of the book Superyachts: Luxury, Tranquility and Ecocide. Salle is open to the idea that superyachts could be used to advance scientific research, but says it's contradictory for anyone to buy a superyacht and claim to be truly concerned about the environment.

McCallum says people who own adventure yachts tend to be younger than your standard superyacht owner, and have a particular interest in remote and pristine places. "They're not the sort of people that are content to just hang out in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean," he says. "Antarctica, the Arctic, the remote Indian Ocean, the remote Pacific Ocean, the Subantarctic islands… that's where you're going to find us delivering our services."

Explorer yachts aren't the only way scientists can reach those destinations, but demand for dedicated research vessels does outstrip available supply. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), arguably the world's greatest collector of oceanographic data, has a fleet of 15 research and survey vessels for the use of its scientists.

Academic researchers can also apply to use the fleet, often at a subsidized rate. But scientists request roughly 15,000 to 20,000 days of boat time every year. In 2019, NOAA was able to fill just 2,300 of them, according to an internal study.

That gap is particularly problematic as the planet warms. Oceans provide services that scientists call "existentially important," producing more than half of the oxygen we breathe and serving as the world's largest carbon sink. They also absorb 30% of our carbon emissions and 90% of the excess heat generated by them.

G. Mark Miller, a retired NOAA Corps officer who was in charge of several of the agency's research vessels, has a different solution in mind when it comes to bolstering ocean research: smaller boats, fit for purpose. Superyachts can cost north of $500 million, he says, "why don't we build a hundred $5 million vessels and flood the ocean science community?"

After leaving NOAA, Miller in 2021 launched Virginia-based Greenwater Marine Sciences Offshore with a vision of building a global fleet of research vessels and offering their use at affordable prices. He says hiring a NOAA boat can cost scientists between $20,000 and $100,000 per day. GMSO plans to charge less than $10,000 a day for most missions. The company says it's close to acquiring its first three vessels.

Miller hopes his business model will help scientists conduct the work they need to—particularly in under-served regions like the Asia-Pacific—without worrying about getting a luxury yacht covered in "muddy worms, plankton goo, dead fish [and] whale snot." He describes yacht owners donating boat time to scientists as "better than nothing," and says it can help get regular people interested in science and exploration.

Christopher Walsh, captain of the Archimedes, says he and his crew love taking part in science initiatives, especially when there's an educational component. "I get a real thrill when we can stream to the classrooms—you can't imagine the enthusiasm the kids display," Walsh says. "That gives me a lot of hope for the future."

Journal information: Frontiers in Remote Sensing

2024 Bloomberg News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Industry news archive.

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The Ultimate Sanctuary at Sea: Lürssen Delivers 82m HAVEN

Lürssen has proudly announced that 82m HAVEN has successfully been delivered: a stunning motor yacht created with an emphasis on outdoor living. HAVEN boasts a blend of intricate stylings with innovative design details, a highlight being her 300 sqm sun deck with a 2.5m ceiling height and moveable windbreak panels.

A Look at Nordhavn's Spectacular 2024 So Far

American yard Nordhavn has embarked on a wonderful first half of the calendar year, showcasing the very best of not only its stunning yachts, but the community that comes with owning one of its vessels. Superyachts.com takes a look at three of its recent announcements, including a successful Owners rendezvous and new images of two stunning yachts: LADY DI and a brand new N71.

SES Yachts Announces the Successful Delivery of 32.7m FAR NIENTE

SES Yachts has announced that 32.7m motor yacht FAR NIENTE has successfully been delivered. She is the perfect example of a classic yacht that has been designed through a contemporary lens, capturing the essence of traditional yachting whilst being equipped with modern technologies.

Royal Huisman Delivers SPECIAL ONE: The World’s Largest True Sportfish Yacht

Royal Huisman has announced that SPECIAL ONE is now ready to set sail following her successful delivery. Alongside bearing the title of the largest true sportfish yacht, she also boasts unparalleled performance capabilities, able to reach an impressive speed of over 30 knots whilst guests can indulge in luxury and comfort onboard.

A Seamless Blend of Beauty and Performance: Heesen Yachts Delivers 50m ALP

Heesen Yachts has proudly announced the successful delivery of YN 20350, now christened M/Y ALP. She is the perfect blend of beauty and comfort with incredible performance capabilities, boasting an impressive top speed of 23 knots and offering a unique yachting experience for her Owner.

Turquoise Yachts Announces Two Major Milestones

The week commencing the 20th of May was highly exciting for Turquoise Yachts, with two of its vessels both reaching significant milestones. 79m Project TORO was successfully launched, and 75m Project ARROW was transported from the yard’s Kocaeli facility to its Pendik shipyard for the final stages of her construction.

SuperYacht Times

SuperYachtTimes.com is the leading superyacht website, updated daily with the most relevant and interesting superyacht news and information. In addition, SuperYacht Times also publishes the quarterly newspaper, The SuperYacht Times, in which readers around the world enjoy compelling superyacht stories and unique features from some of the industry’s most influential players, all accompanied by crisp, fresh photography.

“Often people only see the luxury associated with superyachts, but there is a lot more to it than that. It all starts from that first moment of creation – what other object can you create from a blank piece of paper, which is then made by skilled craftspeople exactly to your wishes? The whole process involves so many different kinds of trades and materials. There is something magical about it. From that point onwards, your enjoyment of the yacht only increases – exploring new places, experiencing new cultures and having the time of your life with family and friends from your home on the water. I believe that as an industry we can do a lot more to promote all of this and elevate the image of yachting worldwide.” – Merijn de Waard, Advisor to the Board and Director of SuperYacht Times

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Cybersecurity firm at heart of massive IT outage says the issue is not a cyberattack or security incident. Here’s the latest

A major internet outage affecting Microsoft is disrupting flights, banks, media outlets and companies across the world, with problems continuing hours after the technology company said it was gradually fixing an issue affecting access to Microsoft 365 apps and services.

Airlines and airports in the United States, Europe, Australia, India and elsewhere were reporting problems, with some flights grounded. Retail outlets, banks, railway companies and hospitals in several parts of the world were also affected in what appeared to be an unprecedented internet disruption.

Here’s the Latest:

Banks in South Africa experience service disruptions for several hours

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — In South Africa, at least two major banks said they experienced service disruptions as customers complained they weren’t able to make payments using their bank cards at grocery stores and gas stations or use ATMs. Both said they were able to restore services hours later.

Southern African regional airline Airlink also reported that its IT network and telephone lines were down because of what it called a global network outage, but said flights were not affected.

London Stock Exchange experiencing disruptions, but trading not affected

LONDON — The London Stock Exchange says it is experiencing disruptions from the technology outage that has created chaos around the globe.

The LSE says its regulatory news service was not working Friday morning but the outage had not affected trading.

“We are currently experiencing a third party technical issue which is impacting some of our services,” a London Stock Exchange Group spokesperson said in a statement.

The exchange says it’s trying to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

Long queues at many airports around the world, but some systems back online

Long queues have formed at many airports around the world as the global internet outage hit check-in procedures for flights — although in some locations systems were now back online.

Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport was gradually returning to normal operations, the airport said in a statement, though some airlines had been forced to cancel flights after being hit with the outage from 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT).

“Passenger handling continued with some restrictions. Departures took place with restrictions. There are still waiting times. Unfortunately, some flights had to be canceled by the airlines. The airport’s systems have been restarted and we are gradually returning to normal operations,” the airport said.

German-based airline Eurowings, a budget subsidiary of Lufthansa, says it had to cancel German domestic flights as well as services to and from the U.K. because of disruption to its check-in and boarding processes. It called on people traveling inside Germany to book train tickets and submit them for reimbursement.

In South Korea, several low-cost airlines reported problems, triggering delays in passenger boardings at Incheon international Airport, the country’s biggest airport, airport officials said.

Jeju Air Co. said it was experiencing problems with ticketing and other services on its website. Air Premia Inc. said key services on its website, such as ticket bookings, cancellations and online check-ins, were not working. The website of Eastar Jet Co. wasn’t accessible as of early Friday evening. Incheon airport officials and the country’s Transport Ministry said they were checking details of damages.

AirAsia announced on its Thai Facebook page that its reservation and check-in system had been impacted and encouraged passengers to go to airports early as they might face slower check-in and longer queues.

In the U.S., United Airlines said that the outage was impacting its computer systems and warned customers of potential flight delays. The carrier said some flights are resuming and it is issuing waivers to make it easier to change travel plans within its website.

Cybersecurity company at heart of IT outage says the issue is not a cyberattack or security incident

LONDON — The chief executive of the cybersecurity company at the heart of a worldwide Microsoft outage says it is working to fix a defect sent out in a Windows update.

“This is not a security incident or cyberattack,” CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said on the social platform X . “The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed.”

Kurtz said there was a defect in a “single content update for Windows hosts.” Mac and Linux hosts were not affected.

The company referred customers to its support portal for updates.

Pharmacy chains in Norway report problems with providing prescription medication

HELSINKI — Two pharmacy chains in Norway said they are having problems providing customers with their prescription medicine and are facing substantial connection delays due to the global network problems.

Several branches of the Apotek1 pharmacy have closed across Norway after being affected by IT issues which also shut down the chain’s online sales, the Norwegian news agency NTB reported.

The Boots drugstore and pharmacy chain also ran into problems delivering products to clients in Norway. Boots said that “due to global network problems, you may experience challenges with ordering and possible delays in dispatches,” NTB reported.

Paris Olympics organizers say some Olympic delegations’ arrivals have been delayed

PARIS — Paris Olympics organizers say some Olympic delegations’ arrivals, as well as the delivery of some uniforms and accreditations, have been delayed because of the outage.

The organizers said in a statement that ticketing and the torch relay have not been affected. “Our teams have been fully mobilized to ensure the continuity of operations at optimum levels,” organizers said.

Internet outage causes problems at most doctors’ offices across England

LONDON — Britain’s National Health Service says a global internet outage is causing problems at most doctors’ offices across England.

NHS England said in a statement that the glitch was hitting the appointment and patient record system used across the health service. The state-funded NHS treats the vast majority of people in the U.K.

The NHS said the issue was affecting the majority of family doctors’ practices, but was not hitting the 999 number used to call for emergency ambulances.

Airlines across the world report disruptions to flights

Airlines across the world, from Thailand to Australia, India, the United States and several European countries, reported disruptions to check-in systems and other issues that caused flights to be grounded or delayed.

With athletes and spectators from around the world heading to France for the Paris Olympics, the Paris airport authority says its computer systems ″are not impacted″ by the global outage, but several airlines and airports elsewhere are.

As a result, ″this situation has an impact on the operations of airlines at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly airports: delays in check-in, delays and temporary suspension of some flights. Our teams are mobilized to orient and assist passengers,″ the airport authority said in a statement.

In the U.S., the FAA said the airlines United, American, Delta and Allegiant had all been grounded.

Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, a gateway to one of the world’s most visited cities, reported that some airlines were forced to check in passengers manually due to outages to their systems, while in the country’s second largest airport of Don Mueang, Air Asia was also checking passengers in manually. Director of Tourism of Thailand, the country’s tourism authority, told state broadcaster Thai PBS the issue was with Navitaire, an e-commerce platform for air travel, and up to six airports had been affected.

In Germany, flights at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport were halted for several hours from Friday morning due to check-in problems, while some flights were cancelled. An airport spokeswoman said flights resumed after 10 a.m.. Issues were also reported in the busy European hubs of Amsterdam, Zurich and Rome.

Baltic container hub in Poland suspends business

WARSAW — Baltic Hub, a major container hub in the Baltic port of Gdansk, Poland, says it is battling problems resulting from the global system outage. Their entry gates are temporarily closed and they have suspended business, the Baltic Hub said in a statement.

British broadcaster back on air

LONDON — Britain’s Sky News was broadcasting again after the outage knocked it off the air during the morning. The news anchor referred to printed notes as Sky News got back on the air. The broadcaster was able to deliver news online, on its app and website during the broadcast outage.

Milan’s stock exchange index information restored

ROME — Borsa Italiana, the company that manages Milan’s stock exchange, said the “correct disclosure of the index FTSE MIB has been restored.” Earlier Friday, the company had said that the index had not been updated, without providing additional information.

Israel’s Cyber Directorate attributes outage to cybersecurity platform Crowdstrike

JERUSALEM — Israel’s Cyber Directorate said on Friday that it was among those affected by the global outages, attributing them to a problem with the cybersecurity platform Crowdstrike. The outage also hit the country’s post offices and hospitals, according to the ministries of communication and health.

A recording playing on CrowdStrike’s customer service line said, “CrowdStrike is aware of the reports of crashes on Microsoft ports related to the Falcon sensor.” It attributed the problems to one of its products used to block online attacks. It said callers should monitor its customer support portal.

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