Jan 27 2021

Maritime port cybersecurity

Category: cyber securityDISC @ 10:47 am

MARITIME CYBER SECURITY

Although acknowledging previous relevant cases, the chosen starting point will be June, 16th 2017, when the International Maritime Organization (IMO) formally adopts the recommendations included in the three declarations of principles in the Resolution MSC.428 (98) entitled Cyber Risk Management in Safety Management System.

In this sense, the cyber security risk assessment becomes integral part of the objective (Art.1.2) included in the ISM Code; according to which the management of the cyber security risk must be included in the general objective, for this reason shipping companies must “…ensure safety at sea, prevention of human injury or loss of life, and avoidance of damage to the environment, in particular to the marine environment and to property“. In particular, these objectives are identified in the pursue of the following obligations:

1.         provide for safe practices in ship operation and a safe working environment;

2.         assess all identified risks to its ships, personnel and the environment and establish appropriate safeguards; and

3.         continuously improve safety management skills of personnel ashore and aboard ships, including preparing for emergencies related both to safety and environmental protection.

In the declarations related to the MSC.428 (98), the IMO introduces for the first time the date of Jan., 1st 2021, stating that: “…Administrations (are encouraged) to ensure that cyber risks are appropriately addressed in safety management system no later than the first annual verification of the company’s Document of Compliance after 1 January 2021“.

The second date to remember is Jul. 5th 2017, when the IMO, through the Maritime Safety Committee released the Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management included in the MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3. These guidelines suggest recommendations identified as “high level“ for the management of cyber risk in the maritime sector, with special reference to shipping. The pursued aim is to promote the mitigation of cyber risks, through the adjustment of the safety management system, included in the ISM Code framework.

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