This circular provides information on the requirement to incorporate maritime cyber risk management in the safety management systems (SMS) of companies operating Singapore-registered ships.

Cyber risk management refers to the process of identifying, analysing, assessing, and communicating a cyber-related risk and accepting, avoiding, transferring, or mitigating it to an acceptable level, considering costs and benefits of actions taken to stakeholders.

Maritime cyber risk refers to a measure of the extent to which a technology asset is threatened by a potential circumstance or event, which may result in shipping related operational, safety or security failures as a consequence of information or systems being corrupted, lost or compromised. The goal of maritime cyber risk management is to support safe and secure shipping, which is operationally resilient to cyber risks.

As affirmed in Resolution MSC.428(98)1, an approved SMS should take into account cyber risk management in accordance with the objectives and functional requirements of the ISM Code2, MPA will require cyber risks to be appropriately addressed in the company’s SMS no later than the first annual verification of the ISM company’s Document of Compliance after 1 January 2021.

In line with the guidance presented in MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3, to consider cyber risks as being appropriately addressed in SMS, the ISM company is required to demonstrate that they have appropriately incorporated the five functional elements to address maritime cyber risks, namely:
a. Identify: Define personnel roles and responsibilities for cyber risk management and identify the systems, assets, data and capabilities that, when disrupted, pose risks to ship operations;
b. Protect: Implement risk control processes and measures, and contingency planning to protect against a cyber-event and ensure continuity of shipping operations;
c. Detect: Develop and implement activities necessary to detect a cyberevent in a timely manner;
d. Respond: Develop and implement activities and plans to provide resilience and to restore systems necessary for shipping operations or services impaired due to a cyber-event;
and
e. Recover: Identify measures to back-up and restore cyber systems necessary for shipping operations impacted by a cyber-event.

ISM companies of Singapore-registered ships are reminded to review the identified risks to its ships, personnel and the environment and to establish appropriate safeguards to ensure that maritime cyber risks are appropriately addressed in the SMS, and that the five functional elements stated in para 5 have been incorporated into their risk management framework.

MPA has co-funded several maritime cyber security courses under Maritime Cluster Fund and Training@MaritimeSingapore. MPA is also aware that Recognised Organisations (ROs) have developed maritime cyber security training courses and relevant consultancy services to assist ISM Companies in developing and preparing their cyber risk management strategy and procedures. Companies may visit www.mpa.gov.sg or approach the ROs for more information on such training and services…

(For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com)

Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Shipping Circular No.15 of 2020 dated 13 August 2020

Changes to annual subscriptions and vessel levies
Friday, August 14, 2020, South Africa

At the South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents (SAASOA) Microsoft Team Annual General Meeting on 5 August, the following changes to the SAASOA Annual Subscriptions and Vessel Levies were proposed, seconded and passed by Members present:

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
R 1 200 per Member exclusive of VAT (No change).
This was proposed by the Board of Directors and accepted by all Members present.

VESSEL LEVIES
Increase from R 300 to R 450 as below per call exclusive of VAT effective 1 September 2020.
– Current Levy R 300.00
– General Levy Increase R 50.00
– Legal Fees Contingency (see below) R 100.00
– TOTAL R 450.00

This Legal Fees Contingency portion will be revisited in August 2021, taking into account the Funds Balances that SAASOA manages to accumulate within the next twelve months, versus the Legal Expenses that SAASOA is expecting also within the next twelve months.

This was proposed by the Board of Directors and accepted by all Members present.

The rationale behind these increases was explained by the Board of Directors and Chief Financial Officer as follows:
1. In line with the slowing economy and the Worldwide COVID 19 Pandemic, the number of billable vessels is well below the budgeted number and is not showing any signs of improving at this stage of 2020.
2. SAASOA does not have access to outside loan funding in the form of bank overdrafts or other such funding.
3. SAASOA operating expenses have been trimmed to the lowest possible level and the Board of Directors have regular input to expenses incurred and reported in the monthly financial reports.
4. In the light of points 1 to 3 above, the Board of Directors consider it prudent to have available cash resources to cover approximately six (6) months operating expenses.
5. In order for SAASOA to continue effectively and efficiently, the Association needs to show an operating surplus each year into the future. With expenses having been cut to as low as possible, the only way to attain this goal is to increase revenue with call numbers dropping, this can only be attained by increasing the revenue base.
6. With the various Shipping Bills / Proposals / Amendments that are currently in the pipeline, SAASOA is going to incur Legal Costs in dealing with these matters. As SAASOA cannot keep asking Members for “Special Levies”, it was decided to increase the General Vessel Call Levy, which impacts all Members through their Monthly Vessel Calls. As this Call Levy is usually passed on to the Principal concerned, there is no impact on the individual SAASOA Member.

(For information about operations in South Africa, contact GAC South Africa at shipping.capetown@gac.com)

Source: South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents (SAASOA) letter dated 12 August 2020

Marine site investigation in Tung Chung Wan
Friday, August 14, 2020, Hong Kong

For approximately 4 months, marine site investigation works involving drilling of boreholes will be carried out in the following locations (WGS 84 Datum):
(A) 22 deg. 17.123’N / 113 deg. 56.093’E
(B) 22 deg. 17.120’N / 113 deg. 56.091’E
(C) 22 deg. 17.113’N / 113 deg. 56.081’E
(D) 22 deg. 17.089’N / 113 deg. 56.073’E
(E) 22 deg. 17.078’N / 113 deg. 56.061’E
(F) 22 deg. 17.071’N / 113 deg. 56.053’E
(G) 22 deg. 17.064’N / 113 deg. 56.045’E
(H) 22 deg. 17.051’N / 113 deg. 56.031’E

The works will be carried out by one jack-up platform. Two tugboats and one work boat will provide assistance.

A working area of approximately 30 metres around the platform will be established. Yellow flashing lights will be installed at the four corners of the jack-up platform to indicate its position.

The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works location outside the hours of work.

Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.

Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.

(For information about operations in Hong Kong, contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)

Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.114 of 2020

Dredging off West Coast of Lamma Island
Friday, August 14, 2020, Hong Kong

For approximately six months, dredging operations will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (G):
(A) 22 deg. 13.234’N / 114 deg. 06.042’E
(B) 22 deg. 11.000’N / 114 deg. 06.423’E
(C) 22 deg. 10.961’N / 114 deg. 06.277’E
(D) 22 deg. 12.214’N / 114 deg. 06.063’E
(E) 22 deg. 12.728’N / 114 deg. 05.723’E
(F) 22 deg. 13.075’N / 114 deg. 05.710’E
(G) 22 deg. 13.199’N / 114 deg. 05.806’E

The works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including two grab dredgers, two tugboats and two split hopper barges. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.

A working area of approximately 50 metres around each dredger will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from each dredger.

Silt curtains fitted with yellow flashing lights will be established within the works area. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments.

The works will be carried out round-the-clock.

Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.

Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.

(For information about operations in Hong Kong, contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)

Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.115 of 2020