Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), a trade association advocating for the interests of over 500 Singapore-based companies involved in ship owning, operating, and maritime services, has unveiled the MaritimeSG Shipping CyberSafe Scorecard.
Developed in collaboration with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and industry experts, this initiative empowers vessel owners, managers and operators to conduct self-assessments through an online portal (www.scissor.sg) gauging the cybersecurity preparedness of their fleet operations.
With cyber risks to vessel systems and operations on the rise, the industry-tailored scorecard aids shipping firms in assessing these risks. Offering insights into areas requiring enhancement facilitates prompt mitigation measures.
Also, leveraging the established components of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework—Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover—the scorecard provides a standardized language and systematic methodology. This equips maritime companies of all scales to comprehensively grasp, oversee, and diminish the cybersecurity risks associated with vessel operations.
During the pilot phase, more than 30 maritime companies, including prominent industry players like OSM Thome, Pacific International Lines, PCL, and BW Group, have conducted their self-assessments. Over time, the SSA will analyze anonymized data to discern industry-wide patterns, offering participating companies a benchmarking tool to compare themselves with their peers. Future initiatives for this program entail implementing an automated cybersecurity insurance request process, facilitating access to various cybersecurity coverage options.
"For Singapore to remain a hub for reliable and resilient maritime operations, it is imperative that the industry fortifies its cybersecurity posture. There is currently nothing on the market that allows companies to perform such an evaluation. The scorecard is the foundation for any company to plan and undertake long-term measures to improve their level of cybersecurity preparedness. The launch of the MaritimeSG Shipping CyberSafe Scorecard, hence, marks a pivotal moment in our industry's journey towards cyber resilience," stated T S Teo, Chair of the SSA Digitalization Committee, who oversaw the development of this initiative.
