More and more shipping companies are using technology to transform their businesses and increase their competitiveness. The exchange of electronic data between ship and shore has increased significantly in the past decade. The shipping industry’s use of remote monitoring of systems, diagnosis and remote maintenance will continue to increase, as will the information exchange between ships and authorities, service providers, charterers and owners/operators.
Vulnerable and very important on board systems require updates and support by web technology so vessels are more frequently connected to the worldwide web (e.g. ECDIS, Engine Maintenance system etc.). On the other hand Companies have developed IT departments to support the shore based activities and the managed vessels requirements that need internet connections and correspondence. The extended use of electronic data exchange increases the likelihood of cyber-attacks in variety, frequency and sophistication. These may be from a USB stick that introduces malware aimed at acquiring sensitive commercial information, from an email with detailed ship information sent to unknown people, to the full scale subversion of a company’s shore-based IT system, or the potential compromising of systems on board ships.
