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Uncrewed offshore survey and inspection company Nauticus Robotics has reached an agreement with Shell on a program to develop and mature its systems for inspecting subsea infrastructure. Working with inspection tooling service providers, Shell and Nauticus will work on operational qualification for Nauticus’ Aquanaut and Hydronaut autonomous platforms.

Nauticus has ordered an initial production run of 18-meter uncrewed workboats (dubbed Hydronauts) which will support launch/recovery, comms, and charging for an onboard AUV system (Aquanaut). The autonomous, untethered Aquanaut is designed to perform survey, maintenance and subsea intervention work – without the cost and carbon footprint of a large crewed survey vessel. Most of this subsea work is carried out today by human-controlled Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), which are tethered and require a much larger vessel platform to launch and recover.

“Implementing our supervised autonomous method – one that has proven more robust and dynamic than most of its kind – is expected to provide our partner and future customers more than 50 percent cost savings compared to today’s methods of operation,” said Todd Newell, the SVP of Business Development for Nauticus.

Working with Shell, Nauticus will test out its uncrewed operating concept for the specialized task of subsea inspection. An initial feasibility study for the project was recently completed, and the team has moved into the operational qualification phase. This focuses on testing out the operation of the robotic Hydronaut/Aquanaut pair using supervised autonomy and tool control. Nauticus’ acoustic underwater comms technology enables tetherless operation while retaining oversight of the work.

“This project aims to fundamentally improve how we collect subsea facility data, through the combination of ‘AUV native’ tooling design, supervised autonomy, and recent improvements in remote communications,” said Ross Doak, Deepwater Robotics Engineer on Shell’s robotics team.

The robotic vessel/submersible combination is attracting multiple developers in the subsea space. Ocean Infinity’s Armada program plans for a fleet of 23 unmanned AUV carrier / survey vessels, and its first hulls are currently under construction at Vard Vung Tao. The Wilhelmsen/Kongsberg-backed Reach Subsea USV-ROV program is also comparable, though smaller in scale.

Source: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/shell-signs-on-to-test-all-robotic-platform-for-subsea-inspection

Three of Australia’s maritime unions are threatening to disrupt operations at ten of Australia’s seaports on Friday, August 5, in their long-running dispute with Svitzer Towage, one of the country’s leading operators of tugs. Svitzer, a part of the Maersk Group, and the unions have been without a collective bargaining agreement (known as an enterprise agreement in Australia) since their 2016 contract expired in 2019.

Media reports indicate that the company and the unions, the Maritime Union of Australia, the Australian Institute of Marine & Power Engineers, and the Australian Maritime Officers Union, had met more than 50 times over the more than three years attempting to come to terms for the new contract. At one point, they reportedly had an agreement in principle that later collapsed. The long-running dispute has resulted in labor actions, but on August 5 the unions hope to broadly disrupt port activity across Australia.

Union officials are reporting that the duration and scope of the strikes will be determined at the local level. Workers in Melbourne and Brisbane reportedly will walk off the job for 24 hours, which is expected to create widespread disruptions in those ports. However, workers in the other eight ports involved in Friday strikes, at Cairns, Newcastle, Sydney, Port Kembla, Adelaide, Fremantle, Geraldton, and Albany, were expected to stop work for only four hours beginning at 9 a.m. local time. They have promised that tugboat services for naval vessels and cruise ships however would continue during the work stoppage.

In a statement released by the MUA, they accuse Svitzer of not negotiating in good faith while “lodging a laundry list of unreasonable demands, and threatening to slash the pay of its seagoing workforce by almost 50 percent.”

A spokesperson for Svitzer responded to the union allegations saying that the company had offered to “maintain crew salaries and core conditions” as part of a new contract. They contend the stalemate is over “reasonable productivity improvements” which the unions refuse to consider.

The new job action is timed to call attention to Svitzer’s attempt to abandon the collective bargaining process. Following the example set by other Australian companies, including Patrick Terminals in 2021, Svitzer threatened to seek government approval to end the bargaining process. Unlike other companies in Australia, Svitzer however is following through on its threat and is set to go before Australia’s Fair Works Commission starting on August 8 to make the case to end the enterprise agreement. The company said it needs certainty for itself and its customers, and that the unions have left it no option.

“Svitzer’s militant brinksmanship threatens to throw the smooth and efficient operation of almost every Australian seaport into complete chaos,” said the MUA’s National Secretary, Paddy Crumlin. “We are confident that the Fair Work Commission will look at the reckless and belligerent behavior of Svitzer throughout this process and respond to the company’s court action appropriately.”

The union says Svitzer’s desired course of action would devastate workers by slashing their pay, cause massive fatigue risks, and undermine the capacity to provide reliable and efficient towage services to international shipping companies and various port authorities.
Source: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/tugboat-unions-to-disrupt-australian-ports-in-long-contract-dispute

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, which has already been actively pursuing wind-assisted propulsion and fluid dynamics for improved performance, will now join a joint research effort for the application of aerospace engineering technologies to improve the performance of wind-powered vessels. One of Japan’s leading shipping companies, MOL is proactively working to use technological developments to reduce GHG emissions from its vessels and achieve group-wide net zero emissions by 2050.

MOL working with MOL Tech-Trade and Akishima Laboratories is working on joint studies related to wind-powered propulsion and is developing a new ship design, ISHIN, which reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by using wind as a propulsive force. Now they will implement more advanced joint development aimed at optimizing the hull shape for wind-powered vessels, which adopts aerospace engineering technologies in the ISHIN ship design, in collaboration with Dr. Kota Fukuda, Associate Professor at the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Tokai University, Japan.

In the ISHIN ship design, the hull features a shape that reduces wind pressure from both the bow and the sides. It uses lift from diagonally opposite winds, in addition to ensuring a smooth, streamlined flow of wind to increase operating efficiency. Earlier this year, MOL ordered two 15,600 gross ton ferries that will be fueled by LNG and use the innovative hull design. MOL expects that the new ferries will reduce CO2 emissions by about 35 percent in comparison with ferries currently in service, by adopting the latest technologies.

Dr. Kota Fukuda, a noted researcher in fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, and flow simulation fields, and his group have carried out fluid dynamics research on the examination of flow phenomena around rockets and aircraft. They have also worked on the development of high-performance solar cars and solar unmanned airplanes, as well as other applications of their simulation technology. In this new project, they will expand their research field to ship engineering and ocean-going vessel development.

This new joint research project is launching as MOL also continues to push forward with its efforts to demonstrate its rigid wind sail for bulkers. The company is working with the Oshima Shipyard on the Wind Challenger, a retractable rigid sail. The shipyard recently floated out the first bulker with the Wind Challenger installed and MOL expects to start demonstrations of the vessel later this year. MOL has announced partnerships to build several bulkers outfitted with wind-assisted propulsion. The company also recently said it would study combining its rigid sails along with the installation of wind rotors on a bulker.

Source:https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/mol-joins-research-jv-using-aerospace-engineering-to-reduce-emissions

On Thursday, China’s People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force launched 11 ballistic missiles into the waters around Taiwan, according to U.S. officials. No damage has been reported.

Taiwan’s ministry of defense said in a statement that the missiles landed to the northeast and southwest of the island, consistent with previously-designated exclusion zones, and posed no threat to the public. The ministry released a photo of a Patriot anti-ballistic missile battery and said that its “defense systems have been activated,” but it gave no indication that it had fired any interceptor missiles.

According to Japan’s defense ministry, five missiles landed inside the Japanese EEZ, including one that passed over the northern tip of Taiwan during its flight. Japan controls several islands just east and north of Taiwan, and its EEZ abuts the Taiwanese exclusive economic zone.

The exercises could have an impact on marine operations. The southwestern drill area is located just 15 nm from the port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s biggest and busiest seaport. Taiwan’s Maritime and Port Bureau has promoted the use of alternate routes in and out of Kaohsiung, Taipei and Keelung to account for the exclusion zones.

Fishermen in some affected areas have decided to stay in port to avoid the risk of an accident, according to Taiwan’s CNA news agency, and are taking an economic loss for the time spent in port. Otherwise, “all ports in Taiwan are functioning as normal and the traffic movement in and out of ports is not disrupted,” reports marine insurer Gard. Substantial vessel traffic levels were visible near major ports Thursday, based on AIS tracking provided by Pole Star, though primarily made up of smaller local vessels. Anecdotal reports suggest that some shipowners are delaying schedules or rerouting vessels around Taiwan to the east, avoiding the Taiwan Strait until after the drills are over.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen called the missile tests an “irresponsible act” and called for deescalation.

“We call on Beijing to act with reason and exercise restraint. Taiwan will not escalate conflict, but we will resolutely defend our sovereignty, our security and our democracy,” she said in a statement.

Speaking to MSNBC on Thursday, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the launches were “concerning.”

“One of the things that’s troublesome about exercises like this or missile launches like this is the risk of [mis]calculation, the risk of a mistake that could actually lead to some sort of conflict,” he cautioned.

The disruption may not be over yet, as China’s military drill warning extends through Sunday.

Source: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/china-launches-11-ballistic-missiles-into-waters-around-taiwan

The efforts to restart Black Sea shipping are accelerating with Turkish and UN officials confirming that they expect additional ships to depart ports in Ukraine on Friday, August 5, while the first inbound bulker has also been identified. Based on the success at handling the bulker Razoni earlier in the week, and lessons learned during the proof of concept, they are now saying they are prepared for a second multi-ship proof of concept as they prepare for a steady flow of vessels in and out of the Black Sea to Ukraine. They are reporting that a total of 58,041 tons of corn will depart Ukraine through the maritime humanitarian corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar released a statement today, August 4, reporting that he had met separately with Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov to discuss grain shipments and the latest situation. Minister Akar stated that they continue to work with the authorities of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the United Nations for the smooth functioning of the system.

“As a result of intensive work and coordination at the center, three ships are planned to start sailing from Ukrainian ports within the scope of grain shipment tomorrow,” announced Akar. Ukrainian officials reported yesterday that 17 vessels were loaded and preparing to depart from the three ports under the UN-brokered humanitarian corridor.

After reports that the Razoni had been cleared to proceed by the inspectors in Istanbul, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters, “We will steadfastly continue to fulfill this agreement. It is beneficial to Ukrainian farmers, it is beneficial to the Ukrainian economy, and it is beneficial to the world.”

Late today, the JCC identified the three vessels that it has approved to depart Ukraine saying, “Drawing from lessons learned during the first movement of M/V Razoni, the JCC has authorized this movement as a second ‘proof of concept’, testing multi-ship operations in the corridor including an inbound ship. In addition, the corridor has been revised to allow for more efficient passage of ships while maintaining safety.”

The ships that have been authorized to depart for Turkey are the Polarnet, a Turkish owned bulker (12,200 dwt) which President Zelenskyy visited last Friday in Chornomorsk, which will depart with 12,000 metric tonnes of corn bound for Turkey. The Rojen, a 41,500 dwt bulker registered in Malta will also depart from Chornomorsk with a cargo of 13,041 MT corn destined to the UK, while the Navistar, a 38,243 dwt bulker registered in Panama, will depart from Odesa with a cargo of 33,000 MT of corn heading to Ireland.

The next test of the system will be moving vessels into Ukraine to continue the exports once the ships trapped in the ports since February are finally able to clear the ports. On Wednesday, Minister Akar confirmed media reports that an empty ship is expected to move to Ukraine after being inspected in Istanbul.

Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesman for the Ukrainian government in Odesa, initally identified the first inbound bulker as a Turkish-owned ship, the Osprey S. Registered in Liberia, the 30,500 dwt bulker is currently in the Tuzla anchorage south of Istanbul. A spokesperson for the Joint Coordination Center however reports that they would be boarding another vessel, the Fulmar S (14,415 dwt) registered in Barbados for an inspection on Friday before it proceeds to the port of Chornomorsk.

The bulker Razoni, laden with a cargo of corn from Ukraine, left the Turkish anchorage this morning. She is proceeding to Tripoli where Ukrainian officials said she is expected to start offloading early next week.
Source: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/three-ships-to-depart-ukraine-as-first-inbound-ship-awaits-inspection

January – June volume levels have improved on last year’s figures, the port operator Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) announced 2 August.

READ: China to dominate world’s top 20 container ports

A wave of COVID-19 restrictions paralysed the city earlier this year.

Shanghai averaged a daily throughput that neared 140,000 TEU in July, recovering to the pre-pandemic levels.

New data from FourKites indicates that import and export ocean shipment volumes at Chinese ports have bounced back over the past weeks as COVID-19 lockdowns have eased.

Volume at the Port of Shanghai has increased since mid-May, with the 14-day average ocean shipment volume up 15 per cent compared to 12 March (the day before lockdowns went into effect) and up 36 per cent week-over-week for shipments, according to new findings by FourKites.

Ports across China moved a total of 142.3 million TEU over the first half of 2022, a 3 per cent year-on-year increase.

Smart glasses that are powered by augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies are being used to facilitate site inspection and remote monitoring in a new pilot at Singapore’s Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M). Running on M1’s 5G network, the project is part of a government grant to drive the commercialisation and adoption of 5G applications.

The smart glasses are can carry out real-time analyses and generate data, which the wearer can use to support his tasks. The device also allows the wearer to communicate with a control room or receiver. Each pair is equipped with a camera lens, microphone, micro speaker, and a micro projector that can project a digital overlay of text and images within the wearer’s field of vision. The glasses connect online via cellular or Wi-Fi.

The pilot is part of Keppel O&M’s efforts to tap digital and virtual technologies to improve the efficiency of remote operations for its workforce, according to a joint statement released Wednesday by the maritime player and M1. Both companies are subsidiaries under Keppel Corporation.

For example, the smart glasses will be worn by inspection personnel to view work instructions on-site as part of asset maintenance work. Controlled via voice commands, the device replaces the need for manual check sheets and drawings and also can facilitate remote coaching. It can cut manhours required for on-site quality inspection by up to 50%, Keppel said.

Other use cases tested under the pilot include remote monitoring with digital twin virtualisation, during which field engineers can capture and stream live sensor data via the AR-enabled glasses back to the main office and receive real-time remote guidance. The data also can be overlayed on-site, within the engineer’s field of vision, to display information such as the equipment’s real-time performance and condition, during operations.

It provides a common platform on which both the field engineer and office-based support staff can troubleshoot and rectify issues. This use case aims to improve field efficiency by 40%.

The smart glasses also will be tapped to facilitate remote virtual walkthroughs of a vessel, enabling Keppel engineers, customers, and classification societies–part of a wider ecosystem involved in the construction and operation of maritime structures–to carry out pre-construction feasibility assessments simultaneously. The goal here is to enable potential engineering design issues to be identified earlier and, hence, mitigate pre-construction risks.

Engineering also can use the smart glasses during the construction phase to validate the project is adhering to correct specifications. The device can further support collaboration between different shipyards and locations where various vessel components are constructed.

Keppel O&M CEO Chris Ong said the company had conducted remote inspections with the smart glasses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic amidst limited on-site surveys and physical inspections. This now was expanded to further improve efficiencies and improve yard operations as well as deliver digital applications for its customers’ assets, Ong said.

M1 CEO Manjot Singh Mann said the smart glasses, running on a 5G network, could support high-bandwidth immersive AR/VR environments with detailed representations and real-time information to be relayed to users and control centres.

The deployment of the smart glasses at Keppel O&M could be scaled and replicated to drive operational efficiency and workplace safety for other sectors, Mann said.

The pilot is funded under Singapore’s 5G Innovation Programme, managed by Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), to drive Singapore’s 5G ecosystem.

Some SG$30 million ($21.55 million) has been set aside for the scheme, which includes two other projects that will see 5G mobile edge and mixed reality (MR) technologies deployed in the healthtech sector as well as the delivery of an outdoor 5G-enabled cinematic-quality AR experience, according to IMDA.

In the healthtech initiative, IMDA and National University Health System, Singapore Telecommunications, and ApoQlar will develop 5G-enabled holomedicine, or MR capabilities that tapped holographic displays and images to enhance healthcare services. The application will leverage remote rendering technologies and MR devices such as Microsoft’s HoloLens 2, IMDA said.

“The collaboration project will enable the holomedicine platform to leverage a high-speed network, which is essential for the real-time transmission of large volumes of data from the HoloLens 2 devices,” the government agency said. “Capabilities such as real-time rendering of high-resolution 3D images and holographic projections, scan reconstructions, procedure and surgical navigation, and remote assistance will be possible in the operating theatres. Outside the operating theatres, capabilities such as enhanced visualisation of patient’s veins during blood taking procedures, advanced point-of-care ultrasound imaging capabilities, and patient education and counselling will be made possible.”

Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/singtel-claims-95-standalone-5g-coverage-eyes-enterprise-uptake/

Biofuels received an important vote of confidence at IMO MEPC 78, when a new unified interpretation was approved, potentially clearing the way for their broader use as ‘drop-in’ fuels for ships to lower CO2 emissions.

“This regulatory hurdle is now set to be cleared thanks to a new ‘Unified Interpretation (UI)’ approved by the IMO’s Marine Environment Committee in June 2022 on the application of regulation 18.3 Marpol Annex VI in relation to biofuels,” said the International Bunkering Industry Association (IBIA), adding “This UI means that biofuel blends up to 30% (B30) will be regarded in the same way as regular oil-based fuels.”

The sticking point for biofuels has been the NOx Technical Code. Regulation 18.3.2.2 of Marpol Annex VI requires biofuels shall not “… cause an engine to exceed the applicable NOx emission limit …”. But as ABS explained in a technical brief, the UI “indicates that a fuel oil which is a blend of not more than 30% by volume of biofuel should meet the requirements of regulation 18.3.1 of Marpol Annex VI”. This means it is “considered to be fuel oil of blends of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum refining and verification of the NOx impacts is not required; and a fuel oil which is a blend of more than 30% by volume of biofuel should meet the requirements of regulation 18.3.2 of Marpol Annex VI. It may also be used without verification of the NOx impacts where the engine is already certified to Annex VI regulation 13 on a DM or RM grade fuel, and biofuels can be burnt without changes to the NOx critical components or settings/operating values outside those as given by that engine’s approved NOx Technical File.”

Experience to date indicates no engine setting changes have been needed to operate on up to B100 biofuels, according to Lloyd’s Register.

“No engine setting changes have been needed to operate on up to B100”

A Lloyd’s Register Technical Report on NOx from marine diesel engines using biofuels covered data from multiple biofuel sea trials with FAME or FAME-type fuels from 20% through to 100% bio-component. The report concluded that NOx emissions were not significantly increased in any instance.

The UI will be issued as MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6, replacing MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6 but is essentially already in effect. There may be a delay in taking this new UI into account in some countries, so owners planning to use biofuels should contact their respective flag administrations about the individual administrations’ formal positions in applying the new UI.

In the wake of the IMO MEPC vote, a consortium led by the Global Maritime Centre for Decarbonisation (GCMD) announced in July an US$18M biofuel drop-in fuel pilot to establish a supply chain for the sustainable fuel.

GMCD chief executive Lynn Loo said: “By facilitating and creating an optimised drop-in green fuels supply chain, this pilot will help to shape national and international standards for biofuel bunkering and lower the barrier for their wider adoption to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from a lifecycle perspective.”

Source: https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/imo-vote-provides-major-boost-to-wider-adoption-of-biofuels-72290

When it comes to cyber-attacks, shipowners should assume the worst and expect to be hit at some point.

These concerns are backed by a report from March 2022 showing that shipping companies pay an average US$3.1 million in cybersecurity ransom payments per incident due to gaps in their risk management. Attacks on the maritime industry range from phishing and ransomware to targeting infrastructure or ship systems for financial or political reasons.

More than half of shipowners spend less than $100,000 a year on cybersecurity management, which the organisations behind the report – maritime consultancy firm Thetius, law firm HFW and shipping cybersecurity company CyberOwl – believe isn’t enough.

Additionally, around two-thirds of respondents aren’t sure whether their insurance covers cyber-attacks. Other eye- raising results show that only 55% of industry suppliers are asked by shipowners to prove they have cyber-risk management procedures in place, while 25% of seafarers don’t know what’s expected of them if involved in a cyber incident.

The big worry is that shipping companies haven’t invested enough time or money to shore up their defences, leaving them exposed to attack and short of meeting IMO 2021, the International Maritime Organization’s requirements for cyber-risk management.

Cyber-attacks and vessel safety

Failing to establish safeguards against any cyber risks to vessels, personnel and the marine environment can prove damaging to shipping companies from an operational perspective.

The rapid pace of maritime digitalisation provides shipowners huge benefits in terms of improved efficiency, safety and asset tracking. Such technology has been around for some time and is now an established part of vessel operation.

One example can be found in navigation. Paper charts have long been replaced with digital alternatives on most vessels, to the point where traditional navigation techniques are rarely, if ever, practised by seafarers. Today, some shipowners have gone further and implemented shore-based dynamic route management, to fully optimise vessel efficiency and safety.

A cyber-attack on one of these onboard systems could have dramatic implications on vessel safety. If navigation controls are altered, or charts deleted, it can become very difficult for a crew to safely operate a vessel. The impact could be even more dramatic for digital systems connected to engines or ballast pumps.

Since January 2021, cyber threats have been included in the ISM Code’s risk management protocols. Under the updated protocol, cyber risks must now feature in a vessel’s Safety Management Systems.

This reform means that shipowners must identify and create an inventory for their critical technology and data assets (both hardware and software, IT and operational technology) on board their vessels and linked to their onshore systems. They should also assess the cyber risks to those assets and establish specific risk-mitigation measures to manage and guard against any threats. Additionally, any cyber-security policies must ensure that crewmembers receive the appropriate training to understand the threats, and that the roles and responsibilities for addressing those risks are clearly defined.

A properly formulated Safety Management System should cover worst-case measures to ensure that a vessel and its crew remain safe should a system fail, which may include hard-copy back-ups or manual overrides. It should also include regular audits to ensure new risks are identified, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

It is important that shipowners work proactively to ensure that their Safety Management Systems are fully up to date and fit for purpose, yet it can be a complex task. Such systems are inherently technical, and an owner may need outside support to properly evaluate and understand vulnerabilities.

West’s Loss Prevention department can provide vessel and issue specific guidance and support in improving Safety Management Systems – both to meet regulations and to improve the safety of a vessel. Our expert team is ready to give practical advice to any Member, and can help ensure a vessel stays safe and P&I cover remains valid.

Major commercial risks

Vessel safety is not the only cyber risk shipowners face. Phishing attacks, where cyber-criminals posing as legitimate institutions send individuals or companies emails to obtain sensitive information, are perhaps the biggest concern for most owners.

Cyber whaling, a particularly dangerous variation of phishing, is becoming more common. In these attacks, emails target a group of senior executives or digital gatekeepers using personal vocabulary and information to trick them into cooperating. Messages are usually from fake email accounts that look almost identical to a genuine sender’s address.

The criminals behind cyber whaling aim to socially engineer their victims, to trick them into making financial transfers or sharing confidential material. Anyone duped into doing either usually has no idea until it’s too late – which would be incredibly disruptive to shipowners’ shore- side and sea-based operations.

An attacker could gain access to the organisation’s computer system, forcing the shipowner to take the entire office function offline. In this instance, the company would have to painstakingly organise hundreds of paper, rather than electronic, records and forms.

The ramifications can extend to ships, with vessels stuck at ports or unable to secure bunkers. Payment, logistics and planning systems could be completely decimated, while compliance paperwork may force some owners to temporarily cease some trades.

How to plan for cyber-attacks

Some of the principles inherent in the ISM Code can guide a shipowner across other parts of their business. IT and digital teams should regularly identify and conduct an audit of all potential cyber threats, while staff need training to spot the warning signs and understand the systems in place for blocking hackers.

Staff within the organisation should never share any personal information in an open, online public forum. For example, an attacker could verify an employee’s identity by using their birthday, after sourcing that information from the victim’s LinkedIn profile.

Given that even the best defences can be breached, owners should also plan to mitigate the impact of any successful attack. This may include maintaining back-up systems and servers where appropriate to keep office functions online if under attack.

It is also important to protect against worst-case scenarios through proper, specialist insurance. Where cyber risks onboard a vessel are covered by P&I, other commercial risks are not – and must be insured separately.

West is proud to have partnered with Astaara, the only specialist marine cyber insurer in the market. Astaara can cover a client’s entire business, including shoreside operations, and provides unique business interruption cover on a tailored basis.

Astaara also offers marine cyber-risk management consultancy services, working with clients to measure and improve their cyber-risk profile through a five-stage process. By building a comprehensive picture of an organisation’s cyber enterprise risk management and increasing resilience, they can dramatically improve security. The process also covers business continuity planning to ensure rapid recovery should an event occur.

Ultimately, shipowners are responsible for building and maintaining strong defences to deter or prevent cyber incidents. Building resilience is critical, both for vessels and backroom functions. Yet, even the most secure systems are vulnerable – and shipowners must work closely with insurers, including their P&I insurer, to ensure business continuity if the worst were to happen.

Source: West of England, by Bill Egerton, Chief Cyber Officer (Astaara)

Shell Signs On to Test All-Robotic Platform for Subsea Inspection

Tugboat Unions to Disrupt Australian Ports in Long Contract Dispute

MOL Joins Research JV Using Aerospace Engineering to Reduce Emissions

China Launches 11 Ballistic Missiles Into Waters Around Taiwan

Three Ships to Depart Ukraine as First Inbound Ship Awaits Inspection

Shanghai breaks throughput record following COVID-19 fallout

Singapore maritime industry sees through AR glasses in 5G boost

US Navy to test autonomous hull-cleaning robot

IMO vote provides major boost to wider adoption of biofuels

Are shipowners covered against likely cyber-attacks?

IMO Maritime Safety Committee Opens 110th Session – Safety, Technology & Seafarer Protection in Focus

IMO’s ECDIS Cybersecurity Mandate: June 2025 Compliance Status & Enforcement

IMO Mandates Monthly Emergency Drills for Passenger Ships: Full Breakdown of New Safety Rules

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