In the Age of Hacking, Hanwha Ocean Ships Are Impregnable Fortresses... Certified by ABS

[Financial News] As waves of indiscriminate hacking incidents continue across sectors, including the financial industry, the importance of cybersecurity is coming to the fore. Ships, too, face threats as they become increasingly digitalized, and Hanwha Ocean has taken the lead. It has delivered ships with cybersecurity certification that meets international standards, a first in Korea.
Hanwha Ocean said in a LinkedIn post on the 13th that it had delivered ships meeting UR E26, the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) requirement for ship cyber resilience. They were very large crude carriers (VLCCs) delivered in July and October.
The vessels are equipped with security systems designed to minimize damage and quickly restore normal operations in the event of a cyberattack or malfunction. Before delivery, they received approval from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) confirming compliance with UR E26.
This is the first such delivery in Korea of ships certified under the International Association of Classification Societies' UR E26. It is the result of proactive technology development with Hanwha Systems Co., Ltd. ABS was the first to grant Approval in Principle (AiP) for a ship design under UR E26, and the achievement is regarded as being ahead of the rest of the world in both timing and pace.
Traditionally, cybersecurity measures for ships have been implemented after delivery. Security equipment was added depending on operating conditions, rather than being integrated into a single system, inevitably leaving gaps. This is why cases of ship-management software server hacks and ransomware infections have continued to occur. In response, IACS made cyber resilience mandatory for ships whose construction contracts are signed on or after July 1, 2024.
Hanwha Ocean not only met IACS's UR E26 requirements but also further strengthened security with Hanwha Systems Co., Ltd. It assessed risks from the ship-design stage and incorporated a new security system by establishing network security zones. It also deployed SecuAider®, a maritime cybersecurity solution developed by Hanwha Systems Co., Ltd., to monitor information moving across the network for signs of threats.
Hanwha Ocean plans to standardize and apply its cyber-resilience system to follow-on series vessels and other vessel types, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and container ships. To further strengthen security, it also plans to secure technologies for automating AI-based detection and response to hacking threats, as well as security technologies for autonomous vessels.
A Hanwha Ocean official spoke positively of the achievement, saying, "With the delivery of these ships, we have established the new international regulations in actual design and construction and gained the experience and know-how to apply them to follow-on vessels," and voiced determination to further strengthen cybersecurity.
[email protected] Kim Yun-ho Reporter