Kongsberg Maritime finished cyber security testing on its products to ensure IACS UR E27 compliance
Kongsberg Maritime has announced a milestone in compliance with IACS UR E27, which takes its basis from IEC 62443. This also includes DNV Cyber Security profile 1 certification. This comes after the completion of testing on Kongsberg digital products range including automation, navigation and dynamic positioning (DP) systems.
New cyber security requirements were introduced on July 1st which prompted Kongsberg Maritime to expedite the certification of its product range. This process started with its automation and control portfolio.
Oscar Kallerdahl, director of cyber security, automation & control, at Kongsberg Maritime said: “Once it was clear that these new regulations were coming into place, we have moved quickly, working closely with DNV to prioritise products for Type Approval certification.”
Jarle Coll Blomhoff, head of the digital ship systems section at DNV Maritime, said: “As vessels become increasingly reliant on digital technology and connectivity, cybersecurity is emerging as a key topic in the maritime industry, fundamental to ensuring safe shipping.”
Security, quality, health, safety and environmental standards were all evaluated under an extensive programme which evaluated each product, implementing the necessary features and documents to ensure adherence to regulations. By the end of August, all Kongsberg Maritime products are expected to be DNV Type Approved for compliance. This will rolled out to other areas of the company including energy systems, propulsion and cargo handling products.
Kallerdahl added: “We understand the challenges ship owners face in maintaining cyber security over the 25-year operation of a ship, so our focus is to establish a baseline of cyber security for all our digital products.”
Kallerdahl added: “We are in a new era of cyber security and it’s clear that ship owners will need to be proactive in seeking the most resilient and effective security measures to protect their assets against growing and more hostile cyber threats. It is a priority for us to manage risk for our customers, and this certification sets a baseline for our product teams' understanding and implementing of the right security features.”
Certification is in place to reassure ship owners whilst also being of benefit to shipyards. The design encompasses integration, installation and testing of Kongsberg Maritime technology for existing and newbuild projects. These tests are already being conducted, it saves shipyards from having to do them.
Procedural efficiency has been created from the collaboration between Kongsberg Maritime and DNV by interpreting and documenting certification requirements. This streamlines operations and allows for greater product testing.
Blomhoff added: “We are pleased to continue our close cooperation with Kongsberg Maritime on cyber security which started when we first developed our initial DNV Cyber secure rules back in 2017. This project demonstrates their ongoing commitment to delivering a full portfolio of systems with a strategic and independently verified approach to cyber risk reduction.”
K-Pos DP system; K-Steering; K-Chief; K-Safe; K-Bridge; K-Thrust; K-IMS; the Riser Management System; and Kongsberg Remote Services are the products currently in the first phase of DNV Level 1 cyber security certification.
Cybersecurity is a growing area for manufacturers, with an increasing amount of laws regarding the topic being introduced. It is important that manufacturers are aware of what laws will affect them, now and in the future.
