#Ports&Shipping - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) has issued an advisory to the maritime sector to make cybersecurity an integral part of their risk assessment exercises and continuity plans.

At the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2017, measures were agreed in relation to the cyber risk being taken into account by shipping companies in respect of the International Safety Management Code.

Resolution MSC 428(98) calls for cyber risks to be appropriately addressed in safety management systems no later than the first annual verification of the company's Document of Compliance after 1 January 2021.

The IMO has also published guidelines on cybersecurity for the industry, included in Marine Notice No 08 of 2018, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

In relation to ports, the approach that the DTTAS is planning to take in Ireland is to incorporate a cybersecurity risk element in the security assessments which are carried out in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 725/2004 1 and Directive 2005/65/EC 2 in our ports and port facilities.

The next five-yearly renewal of these assessments is due in all Irish ports by 30 June 2019.