Korean Register Launches Pilot Cyber Resilience Platform for Ships

Korean Register (KR) launched the pilot service of its new Cyber Resilience Platform (KR-CRP), designed to help shipowners and shipyards manage cybersecurity documentation and comply with the requirements of Unified Requirement (UR) E26 of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). The announcement was made at an event held on October 13 at the Wyndham Grand Busan, attended by around one hundred participants, including executives from Korean shipowners and ship managers such as SK Shipping, H-Line Shipping, Hyundai LNG Shipping, HMM Ocean Service and POS SM, as well as representatives from systems integration, security and IT solutions companies.

KR-CRP provides a digital environment for preparing and managing the design documentation required under UR E26 on ship cyber resilience, and is linked to KR's plan approval and classification survey processes, with the aim of reducing the administrative burden on shipowners and shipyards and making regulatory compliance more efficient. During a demonstration, it was shown how the platform can use data from onboard security monitoring systems already installed by third-party providers, enabling more data-driven assessments, streamlining survey preparation and reducing the time surveyors need to spend on board.

The event began with a seminar on international regulations and cybersecurity response measures in the maritime sector, covering topics such as the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standard on information security management systems, standard cybersecurity procedures for shore-based managers, and the use of KR-CRP for UR E26 compliance. Alongside the launch, KR announced plans to establish an internal collaboration framework for a more systematic response to cyber incidents affecting ships, in which KR's Statutory Systems Certification Team, which works with shipping companies on ISM and ISPS Code audits, will act as the single point of contact for incident reporting, while other departments will collaborate on technical analysis, recovery support, vessel safety verification and assistance with classification surveys.

KR stated that it will use feedback from shipowners and shipyards gathered during the pilot service to continuously improve KR-CRP's functions and usability, with the aim of strengthening the sector's cyber resilience and compliance with international regulations. Yongsok Lee, President and CEO of KR, noted that as ships and shore-based systems become more connected, cyber resilience is becoming a prerequisite for safe and reliable navigation, and stated that the company will continue to offer practical, technology-based services such as KR-CRP to ease the burden of regulatory compliance.