26 Jul 2024

ClassNK has released ‘Guidelines for Cyber resilience of ships’. The guidelines expound new IACS Unified Requirements (UR) to support the consideration of measures to ensure the cyber security of ships.

IACS has established UR E26 for ships and UR E27 for on-board systems and equipment as URs setting minimum requirements for cyber resilience, which is the capability to reduce the occurrence and mitigate the effects of cyber incidents due to cyber-attacks or other threats. The URs have been applied to new ships contracted for construction on or after 1 July 2024.

‘Guidelines for Cyber resilience of ships’

While incorporating these requirements in Part X of its ‘Rules for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships’, which is about computer-based systems, and ‘Guidance for the Approval and Type Approval of Materials and Equipment for Marine Use’, ClassNK has set up a portal site aggregating related information to support clients in smoothly responding to requirements relating to cyber resilience and has been providing information through it.

In the guidelines issued this time, guidance mainly for shipbuilders, ship owners, and ship management companies is described. It covers the application scope of the rules, approval process, required documents, and surveys. The guidelines are available to download on the portal site.