Lloyd’s Register (LR) has announced a collaboration with QinetiQ and GasLog to increase the level of security of cyber-enabled ships.
The pilot phase of the project will last eight weeks.
“Cyber-attacks have become more frequent and more sophisticated, with the threat becoming a board level preoccupation for the marine sector. Cyber security is becoming an increasingly important element of the risk profile of critical assets that are connected between ship and shore,” LR said yesterday.
The three-party collaboration intends to develop “robust methodologies for readiness against existing and emerging standards, vulnerability and impact assessment and mitigation measures”.
LR marine and offshore director Nick Brown said that “due to the rapid pace of technology development prescriptive approaches to risk management are not always suitable. Instead, a total systems approach is required taking into account all systems on board and – critically – on shore, how they are designed and installed, how they connect, and how they will be managed.”
QinetiQ international maritime consultancy and software director, Vittorio Vagliani, said that it was “likely that cyber certification will soon become a legal requirement for entering some territorial waters. Increased internet connectivity at sea enlarges the window of opportunity for criminal organisations to intercept confidential data such as the ship’s position, its cargo, or its passenger list. In a future where autonomous and remotely controlled craft are commonplace, greater cyber protection will be crucial in ensuring chartered vessels cannot be taken off course by those with malicious intent.”