Presented at
DEF CON 33 (2025),
Aug. 8, 2025, noon
(20 minutes).
The 2023 loss of the Titan submersible was a tragic wake-up call that exposed dangerous gaps in safety oversight, design practices, and regulation in extreme maritime environments. As leader of the international search-and-rescue response, I witnessed firsthand the human consequences of operating innovative technologies in legal gray zones without sufficient safeguards. Titan's creators leveraged regulatory loopholes to push design boundaries, dismissing expert warnings and bypassing standard safety certifications. This same pattern of unchecked innovation, inadequate oversight, and hubris mirrors critical vulnerabilities now facing maritime cybersecurity. Just as Titan’s passengers unknowingly placed trust in untested designs, vessels today rely increasingly on digitally interconnected yet inadequately secured systems, creating risks that could lead to catastrophic failures. Harsh environmental conditions and remote operations compound the potential impacts of maritime cyber incidents, paralleling Titan’s tragic fate. This paper connects the painful lessons from the Titan tragedy to urgent maritime cybersecurity needs—arguing for clear international regulation, rigorous independent testing, and proactive incident response planning—to prevent similar disasters at sea.
References:
This presentation will be a combination of my own experiences, the evidence collected during the TITAN Marine Board of Investigation and reports from U.S. Coast Guard cyber command and other sources regarding maritime cybersecurity. The TITAN investigation is available here: [link](https://www.news.uscg.mil/News-by-Region/Headquarters/Titan-Submersible/)
Maritime Cybersecurity references are available here: [link](https://www.uscg.mil/MaritimeCyber/)
Presenters:
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Rear Admiral John Mauger, USCG (Ret.)
Rear Admiral John W. Mauger, USCG (Ret.), is a seasoned executive with over 33 years of leadership
experience in the maritime industry, national security, and cyber operations.
As Commander of the First Coast Guard District, he led over 12,000 people and oversaw critical port
operations in New England, deploying innovative technologies like counter-drone systems to
enhance security. RADM Mauger's leadership during the June 2023 TITAN capsule search and
recovery at the TITANIC site highlighted his ability to lead complex crises in the international
spotlight.
At U.S. Cyber Command, RADM Mauger revolutionized cyber training by developing a cloud-based
environment that modernized cyber exercises and increased readiness. Earlier in his career, he led
domestic and international regulatory programs. His work protected mariners and the environment,
created new markets for alternative fuels, and established a new international code to safeguard vital
Polar regions.
Now leading (PORTS) LLC, John uses his diverse expertise to help clients plan for and navigate
complex challenges in the maritime and critical infrastructure industries while enhancing personnel
and team performance through effective training.
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