Development of Maritime Cybersecurity Protocols – Enhancing Awareness on Cyberthreats in Maritime Transport

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Abstract
The paper presents collaborative research conducted by European researchers, mariners, and cybersecurity experts on identifying and developing preventive procedures for maritime cybersecurity within the CyberSEA project. The project's objective is to equip seafarers with the necessary knowledge to detect and respond effectively to cyber threats, minimizing the risk of disruptions to maritime operations. The research included several key tasks aimed at developing the proposed cybersecurity protocols. The initial phase involved identifying cyber vulnerabilities in the maritime sector and defining the main risk areas. Subsequently, 34 real-life scenarios were constructed to illustrate these threats. Comprehensive desk research was conducted on best cybersecurity practices in other industries that were transferable to the maritime sector to establish a set of preventive measures. The final phase resulted in the development of 10 detailed protocols for seafarers, specifying the procedural steps to be taken in response to distinct cyber threats. The study highlights the essential role of human factors and education in maritime cyber resilience, offering a transferable framework for integration into Safety Management Systems and vocational training curricula.