Assessing cyber risks on board ships: A literature review

Abstract

Due to the multiple cyber-attacks that resulted in financial losses and personal information breaches, cyber security has become an essential issue for the maritime industry today. This research aims to identify the potential cyber risks associated with operational technology (OT) systems on board ships that influence the cyber security of vessels through a state-of the-art literature review. Assessment of the cyber risks on board is carried out according to their likelihood and severity, using a risk score matrix, based on which, they are classified into three categories: high risk, medium risk, and low risk. Based on the classification of cyber risks on board the ship in the three categories, the measures to mitigate them can be defined, to ensure cyber hygiene on board the ship.