Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping to design the next generation of vessels servicing offshore windfarms with the latest technology for sustainable operations and low emissions
While advances in digitalisation are enabling vessel owners to operate offshore maintenance vessels more efficiently, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins are helping naval architects reduce fuel consumption, emissions and noise on future vessels.
Improvements in class unified requirements and system integration is helping shipyards to construct vessels with high levels of cyber resilience, particularly in the onboard operational technology (OT).
This comes as vessels are becoming increasingly connected to the internet and cyber criminals and state-backed attackers are becoming more advanced in their constant attacks.
An expert panel explained how the next series of service operations vessels (SOVs) will have high levels of cyber security and powertrains involving green fuels, during Riviera’s How AI, digitalisation and cybersecurity enhance capability and reduce emissions webinar.
Vard Group head of maritime cyber resilience Gaute Hjellbakk Pettersen explained how the latest newbuild SOVs will be completed to align with the unified requirement (UR) E26 of the International Association of Class Societies (IACS) regarding cyber resilience in ships.
Integrated bridge, automation and power management systems on these vessels will also comply with IACS development UR E27 for cyber secure components on vessels.
“IACS unified requirements are a good starting point, and a major lift for the industry,” said Mr Pettersen. For ship design and construction operations, these URs bring “safety and security, while putting in cyber controls that make sense,” he continues, “setting out structures to work with integrators and build a culture of cyber security.”
Fincantieri Group subsidiary Vard has built in Norway SOVs that are aligned with these IACS URs and with class cyber-resilience notations for various owners. For example, North Star’s Grampian Kestrel and Purus’ newbuild Purus Chinook both have class notations demonstrating they comply with new mandatory cyber-security requirements.
A significant portion of the electronic systems on board these SOVs were delivered from Vard Electro’s SeaQ portfolio.
Vard Electro took full responsibility for the cyber integration, testing across all onboard systems, demonstrating that their cyber resilience is in line with the latest regulatory and class standards.
“Critical systems on SOVs are cyber secure” and can be maintained as such through regular management and cybersecurity updates,Mr Pettersen said.
He says cyber security is essential for the future of offshore support vessels as it enables semi-autonomous operations and remote control of ships.
“Technology is here and ready, but we need cyber security and we need to trust in data and its integrity for reliable operations,” said Mr Pettersen. “With cyber resilience, the possibilities are endless.”
