Lloyd’s Register has issued a new set of guidelines for what it calls ‘cyber-enabled’ ship design, covering not only cyber security but also a host of other ICT-related technical issues.

The guidelines, available from LR’s website, cover navigation systems, radar and AIS, comms, integrated bridge systems, control systems and survey equipment such as sonar and seismic survey systems, says the classification society.

Six different types of risk need to be considered and addressed in the run-up to any system appraisal prior to Approval in Principle, it says: equipment systems, human systems, software, network & communications, data assurance and cyber-security.

“This is about the potential for the industry to embrace the safety and performance benefits that technology now offers," commented Luis Benito, LR marine marketing director. “This is about much more than cyber security. ICT is revolutionising shipping, ushering in a new era – an era of the cyber-enabled ship.

“Today, leading manufacturers and ship operators want or have the potential to innovate using the latest ICT systems, going beyond traditional engineering to create ships with enhanced monitoring, communication and connection capabilities – ships that can be accessed by remote onshore services, anytime and anywhere for safety and performance benefits.”