ABS: Class, Insurance Should Jointly Work on Cyber Safety

Chairman of the classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has called upon marine insurance and classification industries to work closer together in addressing the next-generation safety system. 

Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman, President and CEO of ABS, addressed the American Institute of Marine Underwriters (AIMU), describing the future of maritime safety and risk mitigation as it relates to cyber safety as well as outlining how the classification and insurance industries can strengthen their collaboration as the progression of cyber and autonomy propel maritime safety into new waters.

“Building on our safety and risk control focus, class and insurance are in a unique position to lead in several areas – specifically, simplifying and establishing common terminology as well as delivering … products and solutions like cyber programs and notations,” Wiernicki said.

“Maritime safety depends increasingly on cyber-enabled physical systems and integrated information technology and operational technology efforts, so safety-related standards and services, including class and insurance, must recognize and address this as the safety system that no one sees,” he added.

“As both ABS and AIMU share a common interest in safeguarding vessels and cargoes, their crews and the environment, there are clear opportunities for class and insurance to work together in shaping a smarter safety conversation. The insights shared … from ABS underscore the importance of how we are stronger together in our journeys, leveraging each other’s strengths to simplify the complexities of topics like cyber that are defining our future,” John Miklus, AIMU President, commented.

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