A jack-up rig in ‘first-of-its-kind’ cyber security notation

Offshore classification organization ABS has awarded a Cyber Security-Ready notation to a Sembcorp Marine jack-up drilling rig built to its proprietary Pacific Class 400 design.

ABS said that the CS-Ready Notation was first-of-its-kind issued to an offshore facility.

The company added that Sembcorp Marine supported Notation development providing ABS with a test-bed and user-feedback.

ABS chief digital officer, Howard Fireman, said: “Leveraging the ABS FCI Cyber Risk model in applying the CS-Ready Notation means valuable offshore assets are already down the road towards a robust degree of protection on delivery. […] ABS is pleased to work with Sembcorp Marine to ensure the next generation of offshore assets is better equipped to address growing cyber risk levels.”

ABS’ FCI Cyber Risk model quantifies cyber risk, enumerating three constructs – functions (critical systems such as navigation and propulsion), connections (digital networks connecting functions), and identities (people or devices accessing connections).

Sembcorp Marine VP and head of research and development, Simon Kuik, said: “Sembcorp Marine is very proud to be the first company to achieve the ABS CS-Ready Notation on an offshore asset. We can now to help our customers achieve an enhanced degree of cybersecurity in their assets. We are mindful that ensuring our products’ cyber safety is a continuous process and we need to constantly raise our standards to protect against more complex and sophisticated attacks.”

ABS cybersecurity specialists investigated the cyber-readiness of the critical control systems onboard the Pacific Class 400 jack-up rig, including drilling control systems, electrical power generating and distribution system, vessel management systems, and critical safety systems such as fire detection.