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Cyber-security issues will delay move to autonomous shipsCyber-security issues will delay move to autonomous ships

Autonomous ships will not become a mainstream reality in the next few years due to unresolved cyber-security issues on the technology believes Lar Jensen ceo of CyberKeel.

Marcus Hand, Editor

November 28, 2016

2 Min Read
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Jensen highlighted the issues that have been discovered with cyber-security the addition of internet enabled technology in automobiles.

“This year tens of millions of cars have had to have software upgrades because you could literally drive next to another car and through your smart phone you could take over the car next to you. Disable its brakes for example, that’s the level of security in cars today,” Jensen told the ShippingWatch/Blue MBA Conference in Singapore on Friday.

“So when we talk about autonomous cars, let alone autonomous ships, my personal belief is this is not going be mainstream in the next few years. Not because we can’t build autonomous cars or ships… but because the security aspects are not resolved,” he stated.

Jensen cyber-security has to be part of the design process of new digital technologies that will be used on ships.

“I am very much in favour of the digitalization and automation – it needs to happen but if we don’t take the cyber-security angle seriously, and in my view large parts of the this industry still does not take this agenda seriously, we are going to trip ourselves up.

“We’re going to introduce a lot of automated solutions that will then create a lot of problems because we haven’t though security into it. This is the time to think it into it, before we build the automated solutions, not after.”

Ironically given a presentation by Jensen that highlighted just how easy it is for systems and websites to be hacked, Googling cyberkeel on Monday the search engine warned that “This site maybe hacked”.

To find out more about the cyber-security threats that face shipping:

Download the Seatrade Maritime News - Cyber Security in the Maritime Industry White Paper

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About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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