needing seven to 10 new cruise ships every year , the national classifier considered the time ripe to introduce its own standards .
From the looks of it , no real revolution is expected here : the Chinese standards aim to emphasise passenger safety , define requirements for the cruise experience and ensure public health – much like its Western counterparts .
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It is possible that cyber certification will soon become a legal requirement .
CYBER PIRATES ON HIGH SEAS ?
The trying times give the classification societies opportunities to work on their processes and learn new technologies . One new area is cyber-safety on the seas . In recent years , 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 . The Baltic and International Maritime Council ( BIMCO ), the International Maritime Organization ( IMO ) and the United States Coast Guard ( USCG ) are all developing guidance and regulation to address these challenges .
Lloyd ’ s Register announced a collaboration with cyber expert QinetiQ in September 2016 with an aim of increasing the level of security of cyber-enabled ships . A photo : LLOYD ’ S REGISTER EMEA pilot project with GasLog , an international owner , operator and manager of LNG carriers , seeks to tailor methodologies for LNG vessels .
TOTAL SYSTEMS APPROACH
Lloyd ’ s Register is bringing its technical expertise and understanding of system-level risk to the project in order to support maritime customers and other stakeholders in assuring their cyber security . QinetiQ , having been an advisor for Royal Navy for decades , has plenty of maritime consultancy capability with regards to cyber security .
The collaboration aims at developing robust methodologies for readiness against existing and emerging standards , vulnerability and impact assessment and mitigation measures , all tailor-made for the maritime sector and the specific needs of customers .
Nick Brown , Lloyd Register ’ s Marine & Offshore Director , has commented that a “ total systems ” approach is required in dealing with cyber issues . This means taking into account all systems on board and on shore – how they are designed and installed , how they connect , and how they will be managed .
ROBOSHIPS ON THE HORIZON
“ Globally one can say that shipyards are facing challenges and this is naturally reflected in the classification societies ’ business ,” says Niklas Rönnberg from Lloyd ’ s Register .
Presently , there are number of factors putting pressure on the maritime industry to increase its focus on cyber security . It is possible that cyber certification will soon become a legal requirement for entering some territorial waters .
Furthermore , increased internet connectivity at sea may enlarge the window
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