We continue to see increasing dependence on the use of cyber technologies within our nation’s Marine Transportation System. Vessels and facilities continue employing cyber systems for navigation, communications, engineering, cargo, ballast, safety, environmental controls and many other purposes. These systems improve the efficiency, capacity, and reliability of the MTS. However, they also introduce complex cyber-related risks that are a growing portion of vulnerabilities in the MTS. As such, we must meet our legal and regulatory requirements to mitigate cyber-related risks.
Exploitation, misuse, or failure of cyber systems could cause injury or death, may harm the marine environment, and continue to threaten vital trade activities. This is both a safety and security issue, and we have broad authorities that uniquely position us to help protect critical maritime infrastructure and promote safety throughout the MTS.
Additionally, our agency-specific cyber strategy emphasizes the importance of training our workforce and takes advantage of our already established safety management systems that can mitigate cyber threats through existing operational risk-management frameworks.
The complexity of cyber technology demands development of performance-based standards for cyber systems. Mandating specific technical solutions that become outdated as soon as they are enforced will not be effective. Facility and vessel operators must identify and evaluate their vulnerabilities and potential consequences associated with their cyber systems. Then, they should establish sufficient mitigating measures to achieve an acceptable level of safety and security for their operations.
This performance-based framework has served the industry and public well in the past while mitigating conventional maritime risks.
In looking ahead, I will continue engaging with industry, government, academia and other stakeholders to identify best practices and develop sound policies that take full advantage of already established frameworks. As with most challenges in the maritime domain, cooperation and collaboration will be essential.