Maritime History Rewritten: First Vessels Delivered with Cybersecurity Notations
- CRAC Learning
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
In an era where ships are as connected as cities, the sea is no longer a sanctuary from cyber threats. Vard which is a subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group, has delivered two vessels—Grampian Kestrel to North Star and Purus Chinook to Purus—that are being hailed as the world’s first to carry cybersecurity notations under newly mandated international regulations.
Effective from 1 July 2024, the International Association of Class Societies’ (IACS) UR E26 and E27 requirements mark a turning point. The advancement in Maritime has evolved over time -they don’t just ask if ships can sail—but whether question is whether they can endure a digital storm.
Focusing not only on compliance but now the question of hour is what does it mean for a ship to be cyber-resilient? It means being able to withstand attacks, maintain core operations, and bounce back quickly. These notations are not just technical badges, they are declarations of intent in a new age of maritime risk. Cathrine Kristiseter Marti, CEO of Vard, called the delivery "an historical milestone,” underscoring the company’s role in redefining how maritime platforms are secured and operated.
"These vessels aren’t just built to function—they’re built to withstand the invisible." Equipped with systems from Vard Electro’s SeaQ portfolio, both vessels underwent rigorous cyber integration testing. Vard’s collaboration with classification societies and customers marks a new level of industry alignment—not around efficiency, but around digital defense. The Purus Chinook is also the first CSOV to receive a COMF C2 V1 class notation for optimal climate, noise, and vibration—while the Grampian Kestrel earned Lloyd’s Register’s highest score for noise and vibration (CAC1).
In doing so, they set new global benchmarks—not just for working conditions, but for the future shape of offshore safety. And Vard isn’t stopping at electrons. Its work with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology under the NuProShip I project explores integrating fourth-generation nuclear propulsion into maritime operations. As the world’s oceans become digital highways, the question is no longer how to move through water—but how to defend yourself in it. Vard’s vessels are no longer just ships—they are blueprints for resilience.
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