DSME to bolster cybersecurity for smart ships

South Korean shipbuilding major Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) has teamed up with maritime cybersecurity solution provider DS Lab Company to develop cybersecurity technologies for remote autonomous ships and smart ships.

As disclosed, DS Lab will develop a marine cyber threat intelligence system based on the “Cyber Turtle Ship” platform to ensure safe sailing and protect ships against ransomware and cyberattacks.

Furthermore, DSME will conduct tests and act as an advisor to install a developed security solution on ships.

The project comes as a result of a growing demand for cybersecurity protection because of the rapid convergence of operational information and communication technologies. Cybersecurity technologies are designed to protect data and software from outside threats.

“Commercial vessels and warships with advanced technology should be equipped fundamentally with cybersecurity technology,” said DSME’s special ship marketing division head Jung Woo-sung.

“Cybersecurity technology will become more important if Level 3 self-driving ships are developed in 2025, and the smartization of ships gains speed,” DS Lab Company CEO Jo Yong-hyun added.

DSME will also cooperate with other local cybersecurity companies including PIOLINK which specializes in cloud data center optimization, and SECUI which specializes in network security technology development, as well as the Korea University to speed up the ship cybersecurity technology development by 2022.

Cybersecurity attacks are becoming more prevalent in the recent period. Yesterday, South Korea’s national flagship carrier HMM has fallen victim to a cyberattack that has mainly impacted the company’s email server.

HMM is the fifth container shipping company to face information security threats following recent cyber attacks on CMA CGM, MSC, COSCO Shipping and Maersk.

The increase of cyber threats has prompted the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2017 to adopt Resolution MSC.428 (98), whereby shipping companies are to address cyber risks under their Safety Management Systems (SMS) as defined in the International Safety Management (ISM) Code.

IMO’s ISM Code entered into force in January 2021 and will require ship owners and managers to assess cyber risk and implement relevant measures across all functions of their safety management system.