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DP World Australia disconnects its network after a cyber incident

DP World Australia disconnects its network after a cyber incident. The disruption ran from 2023-11-10 (10 November 2023) to 2023-11-13 (13 November 2023), 4 days, affecting Melbourne, Sydney (AU), Brisbane, Fremantle. Melbourne averaged 2.0 calls per day during the event window against an expected 2.8 (-0.8). Fremantle averaged 1.5 calls per day during the event window against an expected 1.0 (+0.5). Brisbane averaged 2.8 calls per day during the event window against an expected 2.4 (+0.4). Sydney (AU) averaged 0.0 calls per day during the event window against an expected 0.0 (0.0).

World Freight Monitor permanent record. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2023/cyber-incident-dp-world-australia-2023/. Record last updated 2026-09-16.

Key facts

Started
2023-11-10 (10 November 2023)
Ended
2023-11-13 (13 November 2023)
Status
ended
Severity
2 Moderate
Scope
regional
Chokepoints
None
Lanes
None
Countries
Australia
Confidence
high: The detection date, the disconnection, the resumption on 2023-11-13 and the backlog figure come from DP World Australia's own statement, with consistent reporting by ABC News and CNN.
First reported
2023-11-12 (12 November 2023)
  • Severity basis: Terminal closure over 72 hours; landside operations at the DP World terminals in four ports stopped from 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13.

What happened

On 2023-11-10 (10 November 2023) DP World Australia detected unauthorised access to its Australian corporate network and disconnected that network from the internet, which stopped landside operations at its container terminals in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle. The operator handles about 40 percent of Australian container freight, and the National Cyber Security Coordinator said the interruption would affect the movement of goods into and out of the country for a number of days. Operations restarted on 2023-11-13 (13 November 2023), and the company said the resumption did not mean the incident had concluded. DP World Australia reported on 2023-11-28 that it had cleared a backlog of 30,137 containers by 2023-11-20, that no ransomware was found, and that a small amount of data had been taken.

Measured effect

Container ship port calls, Melbourne

Baseline (expected)
2.8 calls per day
Observed
2.0 calls per day
Change
-0.8 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
Standardised score
-0.4
Event window
2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13 (4 days)
Baseline window
2023-09-08 to 2023-11-02 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-19 (19 September 2026), data revision 1:930fa3b896de
Container ship port calls, MelbourneContainer ship port calls, Melbourne, 2023-09-01 (1 September 2023) to 2023-12-25 (25 December 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2023-09-27 to 8 calls per day on 2023-09-26, with a mean of 2.8 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-12-25, was 2 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13.024682023-09-012023-10-292023-12-25
Container ship port calls, Melbourne, 2023-09-01 (1 September 2023) to 2023-12-25 (25 December 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2023-09-27 to 8 calls per day on 2023-09-26, with a mean of 2.8 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-12-25, was 2 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Container ship port calls, Melbourne (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2023-09-013
2023-09-022
2023-09-033
2023-09-044
2023-09-055
2023-09-062
2023-09-071
2023-09-082
2023-09-095
2023-09-102
2023-09-113
2023-09-123
2023-09-134
2023-09-144
2023-09-152
2023-09-161
2023-09-172
2023-09-183
2023-09-196
2023-09-203
2023-09-214
2023-09-221
2023-09-233
2023-09-241
2023-09-255
2023-09-268
2023-09-270
2023-09-284
2023-09-293
2023-09-302
2023-10-014
2023-10-022
2023-10-035
2023-10-041
2023-10-051
2023-10-064
2023-10-072
2023-10-083
2023-10-092
2023-10-103
2023-10-113
2023-10-123
2023-10-135
2023-10-144
2023-10-151
2023-10-164
2023-10-170
2023-10-185
2023-10-193
2023-10-201
2023-10-214
2023-10-223
2023-10-234
2023-10-243
2023-10-253
2023-10-262
2023-10-274
2023-10-283
2023-10-293
2023-10-303
2023-10-313
2023-11-013
2023-11-021
2023-11-034
2023-11-042
2023-11-054
2023-11-062
2023-11-072
2023-11-084
2023-11-092
2023-11-103
2023-11-112
2023-11-122
2023-11-131
2023-11-147
2023-11-153
2023-11-161
2023-11-174
2023-11-183
2023-11-192
2023-11-202
2023-11-211
2023-11-223
2023-11-233
2023-11-242
2023-11-250
2023-11-264
2023-11-272
2023-11-284
2023-11-292
2023-11-304
2023-12-012
2023-12-024
2023-12-032
2023-12-042
2023-12-053
2023-12-062
2023-12-073
2023-12-084
2023-12-093
2023-12-102
2023-12-113
2023-12-122
2023-12-133
2023-12-144
2023-12-155
2023-12-162
2023-12-171
2023-12-182
2023-12-193
2023-12-205
2023-12-212
2023-12-222
2023-12-231
2023-12-241
2023-12-252

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Container ship port calls, Sydney (AU)

Baseline (expected)
0.0 calls per day
Observed
0.0 calls per day
Change
0.0 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
Standardised score
0.0
Event window
2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13 (4 days)
Baseline window
2023-09-08 to 2023-11-02 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-19 (19 September 2026), data revision 1:c90e9eae2818
Container ship port calls, Sydney (AU)Container ship port calls, Sydney (AU), 2023-09-01 (1 September 2023) to 2023-12-25 (25 December 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2023-09-01 to 0 calls per day on 2023-09-01, with a mean of 0.0 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-12-25, was 0 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13.0.00.20.40.60.81.02023-09-012023-10-292023-12-25
Container ship port calls, Sydney (AU), 2023-09-01 (1 September 2023) to 2023-12-25 (25 December 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2023-09-01 to 0 calls per day on 2023-09-01, with a mean of 0.0 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-12-25, was 0 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Container ship port calls, Sydney (AU) (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2023-09-010
2023-09-020
2023-09-030
2023-09-040
2023-09-050
2023-09-060
2023-09-070
2023-09-080
2023-09-090
2023-09-100
2023-09-110
2023-09-120
2023-09-130
2023-09-140
2023-09-150
2023-09-160
2023-09-170
2023-09-180
2023-09-190
2023-09-200
2023-09-210
2023-09-220
2023-09-230
2023-09-240
2023-09-250
2023-09-260
2023-09-270
2023-09-280
2023-09-290
2023-09-300
2023-10-010
2023-10-020
2023-10-030
2023-10-040
2023-10-050
2023-10-060
2023-10-070
2023-10-080
2023-10-090
2023-10-100
2023-10-110
2023-10-120
2023-10-130
2023-10-140
2023-10-150
2023-10-160
2023-10-170
2023-10-180
2023-10-190
2023-10-200
2023-10-210
2023-10-220
2023-10-230
2023-10-240
2023-10-250
2023-10-260
2023-10-270
2023-10-280
2023-10-290
2023-10-300
2023-10-310
2023-11-010
2023-11-020
2023-11-030
2023-11-040
2023-11-050
2023-11-060
2023-11-070
2023-11-080
2023-11-090
2023-11-100
2023-11-110
2023-11-120
2023-11-130
2023-11-140
2023-11-150
2023-11-160
2023-11-170
2023-11-180
2023-11-190
2023-11-200
2023-11-210
2023-11-220
2023-11-230
2023-11-240
2023-11-250
2023-11-260
2023-11-270
2023-11-280
2023-11-290
2023-11-300
2023-12-010
2023-12-020
2023-12-030
2023-12-040
2023-12-050
2023-12-060
2023-12-070
2023-12-080
2023-12-090
2023-12-100
2023-12-110
2023-12-120
2023-12-130
2023-12-140
2023-12-150
2023-12-160
2023-12-170
2023-12-180
2023-12-190
2023-12-200
2023-12-210
2023-12-220
2023-12-230
2023-12-240
2023-12-250

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Container ship port calls, Brisbane

Baseline (expected)
2.4 calls per day
Observed
2.8 calls per day
Change
+0.4 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
Standardised score
+0.2
Event window
2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13 (4 days)
Baseline window
2023-09-08 to 2023-11-02 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-19 (19 September 2026), data revision 1:4a06c2f3731e
Container ship port calls, BrisbaneContainer ship port calls, Brisbane, 2023-09-01 (1 September 2023) to 2023-12-25 (25 December 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2023-10-14 to 6 calls per day on 2023-11-01, with a mean of 2.6 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-12-25, was 2 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13.02462023-09-012023-10-292023-12-25
Container ship port calls, Brisbane, 2023-09-01 (1 September 2023) to 2023-12-25 (25 December 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2023-10-14 to 6 calls per day on 2023-11-01, with a mean of 2.6 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-12-25, was 2 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Container ship port calls, Brisbane (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2023-09-014
2023-09-021
2023-09-035
2023-09-041
2023-09-053
2023-09-064
2023-09-072
2023-09-082
2023-09-091
2023-09-103
2023-09-113
2023-09-123
2023-09-134
2023-09-144
2023-09-153
2023-09-161
2023-09-175
2023-09-184
2023-09-193
2023-09-201
2023-09-213
2023-09-224
2023-09-232
2023-09-243
2023-09-253
2023-09-265
2023-09-272
2023-09-281
2023-09-293
2023-09-302
2023-10-015
2023-10-022
2023-10-032
2023-10-044
2023-10-053
2023-10-064
2023-10-071
2023-10-083
2023-10-092
2023-10-104
2023-10-114
2023-10-123
2023-10-133
2023-10-140
2023-10-153
2023-10-162
2023-10-173
2023-10-183
2023-10-192
2023-10-202
2023-10-213
2023-10-224
2023-10-230
2023-10-242
2023-10-253
2023-10-263
2023-10-272
2023-10-282
2023-10-292
2023-10-302
2023-10-313
2023-11-016
2023-11-022
2023-11-032
2023-11-042
2023-11-052
2023-11-061
2023-11-073
2023-11-082
2023-11-092
2023-11-104
2023-11-112
2023-11-123
2023-11-132
2023-11-144
2023-11-153
2023-11-162
2023-11-171
2023-11-182
2023-11-194
2023-11-202
2023-11-212
2023-11-223
2023-11-235
2023-11-240
2023-11-254
2023-11-261
2023-11-272
2023-11-283
2023-11-293
2023-11-303
2023-12-011
2023-12-024
2023-12-031
2023-12-043
2023-12-054
2023-12-061
2023-12-074
2023-12-082
2023-12-095
2023-12-102
2023-12-112
2023-12-123
2023-12-130
2023-12-145
2023-12-152
2023-12-163
2023-12-172
2023-12-182
2023-12-193
2023-12-201
2023-12-214
2023-12-222
2023-12-233
2023-12-240
2023-12-252

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Container ship port calls, Fremantle

Baseline (expected)
1.0 calls per day
Observed
1.5 calls per day
Change
+0.5 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
Standardised score
+0.5
Event window
2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13 (4 days)
Baseline window
2023-09-08 to 2023-11-02 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-19 (19 September 2026), data revision 1:d835aac37d0d
Container ship port calls, FremantleContainer ship port calls, Fremantle, 2023-09-01 (1 September 2023) to 2023-12-25 (25 December 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2023-09-01 to 4 calls per day on 2023-12-07, with a mean of 1.0 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-12-25, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13.012342023-09-012023-10-292023-12-25
Container ship port calls, Fremantle, 2023-09-01 (1 September 2023) to 2023-12-25 (25 December 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2023-09-01 to 4 calls per day on 2023-12-07, with a mean of 1.0 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-12-25, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Container ship port calls, Fremantle (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2023-09-010
2023-09-020
2023-09-031
2023-09-043
2023-09-050
2023-09-063
2023-09-071
2023-09-081
2023-09-090
2023-09-101
2023-09-111
2023-09-120
2023-09-130
2023-09-143
2023-09-152
2023-09-161
2023-09-172
2023-09-181
2023-09-191
2023-09-201
2023-09-212
2023-09-220
2023-09-231
2023-09-241
2023-09-252
2023-09-261
2023-09-272
2023-09-281
2023-09-291
2023-09-301
2023-10-011
2023-10-021
2023-10-031
2023-10-042
2023-10-050
2023-10-060
2023-10-072
2023-10-080
2023-10-091
2023-10-103
2023-10-111
2023-10-121
2023-10-131
2023-10-141
2023-10-151
2023-10-161
2023-10-171
2023-10-182
2023-10-190
2023-10-200
2023-10-210
2023-10-222
2023-10-233
2023-10-240
2023-10-252
2023-10-262
2023-10-271
2023-10-280
2023-10-291
2023-10-301
2023-10-312
2023-11-011
2023-11-020
2023-11-030
2023-11-042
2023-11-052
2023-11-060
2023-11-071
2023-11-081
2023-11-091
2023-11-101
2023-11-111
2023-11-123
2023-11-131
2023-11-140
2023-11-152
2023-11-161
2023-11-170
2023-11-180
2023-11-192
2023-11-200
2023-11-210
2023-11-223
2023-11-230
2023-11-241
2023-11-251
2023-11-261
2023-11-272
2023-11-280
2023-11-291
2023-11-301
2023-12-010
2023-12-022
2023-12-031
2023-12-040
2023-12-051
2023-12-060
2023-12-074
2023-12-081
2023-12-090
2023-12-100
2023-12-113
2023-12-121
2023-12-131
2023-12-140
2023-12-152
2023-12-160
2023-12-171
2023-12-181
2023-12-191
2023-12-201
2023-12-210
2023-12-220
2023-12-232
2023-12-240
2023-12-251

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Replay

Replay: Container ship port calls, MelbourneContainer ship port calls, Melbourne, 2023-09-11 (11 September 2023) to 2023-12-10 (10 December 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2023-09-27 to 8 calls per day on 2023-09-26. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13.024682023-09-112023-12-10
Container ship port calls, Melbourne, 2023-09-11 (11 September 2023) to 2023-12-10 (10 December 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2023-09-27 to 8 calls per day on 2023-09-26. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-13.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Container ship port calls, Melbourne (calls per day), daily values shown in the replay.
Datecalls per day
2023-09-113
2023-09-123
2023-09-134
2023-09-144
2023-09-152
2023-09-161
2023-09-172
2023-09-183
2023-09-196
2023-09-203
2023-09-214
2023-09-221
2023-09-233
2023-09-241
2023-09-255
2023-09-268
2023-09-270
2023-09-284
2023-09-293
2023-09-302
2023-10-014
2023-10-022
2023-10-035
2023-10-041
2023-10-051
2023-10-064
2023-10-072
2023-10-083
2023-10-092
2023-10-103
2023-10-113
2023-10-123
2023-10-135
2023-10-144
2023-10-151
2023-10-164
2023-10-170
2023-10-185
2023-10-193
2023-10-201
2023-10-214
2023-10-223
2023-10-234
2023-10-243
2023-10-253
2023-10-262
2023-10-274
2023-10-283
2023-10-293
2023-10-303
2023-10-313
2023-11-013
2023-11-021
2023-11-034
2023-11-042
2023-11-054
2023-11-062
2023-11-072
2023-11-084
2023-11-092
2023-11-103
2023-11-112
2023-11-122
2023-11-131
2023-11-147
2023-11-153
2023-11-161
2023-11-174
2023-11-183
2023-11-192
2023-11-202
2023-11-211
2023-11-223
2023-11-233
2023-11-242
2023-11-250
2023-11-264
2023-11-272
2023-11-284
2023-11-292
2023-11-304
2023-12-012
2023-12-024
2023-12-032
2023-12-042
2023-12-053
2023-12-062
2023-12-073
2023-12-084
2023-12-093
2023-12-102

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Timeline

  1. DP World Australia detects unauthorised access to its Australian corporate network and disconnects the network from the internet, stopping landside operations at its four container terminals. [s1] [s2]
  2. The National Cyber Security Coordinator describes the incident as nationally significant and says the interruption is likely to last days rather than weeks. The Australian Federal Police opens an investigation. [s2]
  3. Operations restart at 09:00 local time at the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle terminals after overnight testing of key systems, with about 30,000 containers waiting at the four sites. [s1] [s3] [s4]
  4. DP World Australia reports that the container backlog was cleared by 2023-11-20, that no ransomware was found or deployed, and that some employee data was taken. [s1]

Cause

DP World Australia said it detected unauthorised access to its Australian corporate network and disconnected the network to contain it. No party has been publicly identified as responsible, and the Australian Federal Police opened an investigation. Attributed by: Australian Federal Police. [s1] [s2]

The cause is under investigation.

Resolution

2023-11-13 (13 November 2023): Port operations resumed on 2023-11-13 after systems were tested overnight. DP World Australia said the backlog of 30,137 containers was cleared by 2023-11-20 while remediation continued. [s1] [s3]

Corrections

No corrections to this record as of 2026-09-16 (16 September 2026).

Sources

  1. [s1] DP World, Media Statement: Update on Cybersecurity Incident, published 2023-11-28 (28 November 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  2. [s2] ABC News, Government doesn't know details behind cyber hack that shut down port operator DP World, published 2023-11-12 (12 November 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)
  3. [s3] ABC News, Freight giant DP World recovers from cyber attack, but warns investigation and remediation is 'ongoing', published 2023-11-13 (13 November 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)
  4. [s4] CNN, DP World cyberattack: Australian ports restart some operations, published 2023-11-13 (13 November 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)

Cite this record

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Plain text

World Freight Monitor. "DP World Australia disconnects its network after a cyber incident." Last updated 2026-09-16 (16 September 2026). https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2023/cyber-incident-dp-world-australia-2023/

APA

World Freight Monitor. (2026). DP World Australia disconnects its network after a cyber incident. World Freight Monitor. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2023/cyber-incident-dp-world-australia-2023/

BibTeX

@misc{wfm_cyber_incident_dp_world_australia_2023,
  author = {{World Freight Monitor}},
  title = {DP World Australia disconnects its network after a cyber incident},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Last updated 2026-09-16},
  url = {https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2023/cyber-incident-dp-world-australia-2023/}
}