U.S. Coast Guard, shipping industry professionals, to speak on cyber security issues at CMA Conference
Jeffrey G. Lantz, Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards for the United States Coast Guard’s Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship is slated to moderate a special session of a panel discussion consisting of a Coast Guard Rear Admiral and shipping industry professionals on critical cyber security issues and concerns for the industry. The session will be held at the Connecticut Maritime Association’s Shipping 2015 Conference in Stamford on March 24 at the Hilton Stamford Hotel, Glen Rooms.
According to recent reports published by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), the maritime industry has the lowest levels of awareness of cybersecurity threats, while posing the greatest risks from even minor attacks. Control of ships, port and terminal operations, sale and purchase documentation and cargo manifests all rely on telecommunication and technology to function and are critical to the global economy. A minor breach into any one of these categories could result in not only millions of dollars of damages but could also pose a threat to countries’ national security. The maritime industry lacks a proactive action plan to counter this new, global threat.
The panel, moderated by Lantz, includes: Rear Admiral Paul Thomas, Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy overseeing Inspections and Compliance, Marine Transport Systems and Commercial Regulations and Standards, Dr. Tor E. Svensen, CEO of DNV GL Maritime, whose services include providing protection to critical information, IT and systems in oil and gas assets and operations, James A. Watson, President & COO of ABS Americas, whose industrial control system experts assess and deliver the solutions required to reduce the risk of cybersecurity attacks, and Dr. Hermann J. Klein, President of STG (The Ger-man Society for Maritime Technology), which provides a forum for industry experts to discuss and examine all scientific, technical or practical matters of interest to maritime technology.