ABS, Fleet Management Join Force on Cybersecurity

Global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries ABS Advanced Solutions and Hong Kong-headquartered Fleet Management Limited signed an agreement to implement the ABS industry-leading cyber security solution for Fleet Management’s 220-vessel liquid cargo fleet.

“Fleet Management Limited is one of the world’s leading ship management firms, and their decision to select the ABS FCI Cyber Risk model underlines its position as an industry leader,” said Russell Medeiros, Vice President, ABS Advanced Solutions.

“Working together, we will provide a comprehensive cyber security solution to assist in ensuring compliance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as well as additional cyber-security related guidelines and requirements—creating a safer fleet,” Medeiros added.

“Our safety consciousness and value-added services have always been key drivers of our 24-year growth” said Kishore Rajvanshy, Managing Director, Fleet Management Limited.

“New digital technologies not only bring about considerable opportunities to the maritime industry, but also introduce potential new vulnerabilities. That’s why we are continually innovating and investing in technology to stay ahead of the curve and ensure our vessels operate to the highest safety and technical standards”, he added.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires cyber security to be addressed in Safety Management Systems by January 2021; TMSA3, SIRE, BIMCO, IACS and Rightship have specified additional industry guidelines and commercial requirements. The ABS groundbreaking FCI Cyber Risk model supports compliance with all of these requirements.

The ABS FCI Cyber Risk model was developed following a two-year research contract between ABS and the Maritime Security Center—a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence—led by Stevens Institute of Technology and the US Department of Defense.

Launched in June 2018, the ABS FCI Cyber Risk approach quantifies cyber security risk, and gives owners and operators a practical, actionable strategy to reduce cyber risk onboard a vessel.

“Until now, cyber risk assessment methods were largely qualitative. The ABS FCI Cyber Risk model calculates a cyber risk score and demonstrates how specific FCI alterations reduce the level of risk,” said Medeiros.