IN 1443 – IMCA security bulletin 03/19

  • Information Note
  • Published on 9 July 2019
  • 3 minute read

The IMCA Security Committee is determined to raise awareness of security issues that can potentially harm member companies. Information provided in this regular Security Bulletin is intended to be used by Members to either directly pass on to employees or use the material it contains as part of an existing company security awareness programme.

1. Cyber security

The Be Cyber Aware at Sea website is recognised as a useful tool to assist in raising awareness.

Each IMCA Security Bulletin refers the reader to one of the Be Cyber Aware at Sea poster and video campaigns; this bulletin it is ‘Don’t fall for the honeytrap’. Download the poster.

Honeytrap Poster

Contribution from a member of the IMCA Security Committee:

  • Cyber attack activity continues to be high worldwide, though no significant publicly reported maritime specific events have bene reported recently. Microsoft recently issued an out of cycle emergency patch to mitigate against a type of ransomware, similar to NotPetya, that caused a well publicised significant impact on a global shipping company, have your vessels servers been patched?
  • Good cyber housekeeping must become part of the DNA of every organisation. Expensive operational assets should have completed cyber risk assessments and have in place a practiced recovery plan to restore vessels and systems quickly to operational use, no matter where they are located on the planet.  It’s no good if the back-up files are in HQ if the asset is in the Gulf of Guinea.
  • It is worth repeating and reinforcing good behaviours; the Be Cyber Aware At Sea website, which we have promoted before, is an excellent resource to support crew education activities and share materials relevant to the maritime community.

2. Traditional security

Contribution from a member of the IMCA Security Committee

  • Yemen Houthi threat to Red Sea shipping.

Links to recent security related information:

  • Symposium on Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea report.
  • NATO Maritime Security Symposium. 
  • US Navigation Guidance Gulf of Oman.
  • Joint press statement following Fujairah attacks.
  • Combined Maritime Forces Industry Releasable Threat Assessment.
  • NATO Shipping Centre Newsletter May-June 2019.

Members are encouraged to report to the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade-Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) both on entering the Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) and on sighting any suspicious behaviour.

OCIMF has just placed a new Merchant Navy Liaison Officer (MNLO) at the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) in Dubai. If Members need support, advice or would like to visit please contact:

Chris Scothern (ExxonMobil)
MNLO Dubai
dubai@ocimf.org, +971 (56) 686 5509 (m).

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