The most common way for cyber criminals to strike is through negligent or poorly trained individuals. In the past, many companies have been victims of cybercrime by relatively unsophisticated hacking methods, such as downloadable links in emails and viruses. In the maritime industry, the belief that “Our vessel is not connected to the cyberspace” is very much WRONG!

OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum) has recently released their new Vessel Inspection Questionnaire (VIQ) that takes effect on 17th of September 2018. With a complete section on maritime security devoted to Cyber Security, this is the first major revision of OCIMF’s VIQ since 2013.

Seafarers can now undergo training on Occupational Health and Safety on board their respective vessels using a new on board course. 

One of the challenges that navigating officers’ face is a large number of ECDIS systems found on vessels, all with different user interfaces. However, on boarding vessels officers need to be able to competently use the ECDIS, as it could be their main source of navigation. In order to assist the shipping industry, Seagull has partnered with ECDIS developers to create cost-effective ECDIS type-specific training for several of the widely used models.

Across the global maritime community, vessels, ports and facilities are increasingly dependent on cyber systems. Failure to anticipate and prepare for a cyber incident could lead to disastrous consequences.

There has been a positive trend for the Norwegian International Ship (NIS) register over the past 3 years, with more ship-owners registering their vessels back to Norwegian flag. According to Olav Akselsen, Director of the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA), ‘more than 230 vessels have been registered in NIS since 2014, most of them coming back to Norwegian flag due to changed operational terms for the owners’.

Onboard Danish flagged vessels members of the safety group are required to undergo training concerning the working environment approved by the Danish Maritime Authority. This is also called “Section 16 course”. Immediately after the election of a safety representative and appointment of a supervisor, the ship owner shall enrol them for the Section 16 course. The objective of this course is to give seafarer’s necessary training and knowledge required to carry out their duties as a member of the safety organization in cooperation with others to promote a safe and healthy working environment on board ships.

Produced by DNV GL, the Cyber Security Awareness training is set out to help seafarers identify and respond to cyber threats.

On the 8th September 2017 the International Convention of the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) entered into force. With a few exceptions, it will apply to all ships in international trade beginning in 2017 and fully implemented in 2024.

Seagull Maritime will offer the most comprehensive e-learning package in the Maritime industry for personal working in potential explosive atmospheres. The training content is developed by ExTek and Seagull Oil & Gas, and follows the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards.