1. Barring a few, IT professionals are, by and large, concerned with hardware and software relating to solving day to day information processing challenges. Writing code for custom software, maintenance of code, setting up remote sharing and meeting systems, sifting thru software products, etc. is usually their forte. They are not seafarers and seldom appreciate the nuances of the day to day ship life. Furthermore, it’s just not fair to expect them to understand the working of onboard ICS. From an organisational environment point of view, it is rather difficult to accept vulnerabilities within systems and processes designed by ourselves, isn’t it?
2. A management system must comprise of policies, roles, procedures and records as a minimum, and has to be auditable for compliance via objective evidences, however, the balance between actual compliance and evidence of compliance must be established in a bold, pragmatic and sustainable manner. With enough on the plate of the ship-staff, adding additional duties and records by way of checklists, forms, entrees, etc, will not go down well with them and the process will falter at the very start. The
design of the system should be such that it works for the ship- staff rather than the ship-staff working for the system. The cyber security program must be inculcated in the seafarer’s culture. IT professionals cannot be expected to understand this culture, let alone designing something to integrate with it.
Hence, Establishing, Implementing and sustenance of an efficient and effective cyber security system must be entrusted to an independent dedicated team with commensurate marine and technological professional qualifications. One of the prime requirements of engaging with a professional vendor should be certification under ISO 9001 & 27001.
C. Customised Training of Ship Staff
Develop custom training material, relating to onboard equipment. I strongly recommend a one-day networking training program for deck officers and engineers, which includes practical training – making contact with shore support and following instructions on remote sessions, understanding network designs and basic trouble shooting.
Establish a system of onboard drills and exercises along with digitised training, in line with company’s competence management systems.
Conclusion
I would like to conclude with a request to the men in- charge, the decision makers – the Company Chairmen, Presidents, General Managers, Technical Superintendents, DPAs, CySO’s, involved in ship management – Please recognise the risk landscape of today, when shipboard connectivity is relatively slow and appreciate the situation in the future when the connection speeds pick up. Ships satellite terminals will become sitting ducks for cybercrime. Furthermore, technology and information overload is an overwhelming experience for the seafarer; a co-mingling of professional roles and social expectations are draining the emotionally fragile sailing men and women. Urgently addressing their training needs and responsible self-regulation of social media behaviour by knowledge empowerment is the need of the day. Do not adopt a system for complying with statutes, rather develop a culture, wherein statutes are complied with naturally and organically. Please act today. Act now!!!
About the writer Captain Dayal is the CEO of eDOT Solutions, which designs, implements and manages Cyber Security Solutions for ship owners and managers.
| +91 832 2501715
www.edot-solutions.com |
www.marisafe.net |
contact@edot-solutions.com
Capt Ruchin C Dayal Master Mariner-MMI, India AMS-SAMS(USA), FIIMS-UK, AFNI-London, MAIMS-Australia
58 | The Report • September 2020 • Issue 93
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