Norway, on 02/06/2025. VARD, a leading global designer and shipbuilder of specialized vessels and part of the Fincantieri Group, is excited to announce that it has introduced the industry's first vessels with cyber notation, in line with the new regulations effective July 1st, 2024.
The CSOV Grampian Kestrel for North Star and the CSOV Purus Chinook for Purus are both compliant with these new mandatory cybersecurity standards. These cybersecurity notations provide a verified assurance of readiness, ensuring that cyber resilience is embedded in every aspect of VARD's shipbuilding process—from conception to delivery. This enhances the vessels' ability to withstand cyberattacks, operate under threat, and recover after an incident.
At North Star, digital resilience is just as crucial as operational reliability. The Grampian Kestrel represents our commitment to pioneering safe and future-ready vessels, safeguarding both our personnel and operations. Working closely with VARD and Lloyd’s Register, we have integrated cybersecurity into the ship's very fabric—making it a fundamental aspect, designed and tested from the beginning. This achievement highlights our commitment to safety, innovation, and setting new benchmarks for the offshore industry,” states James Bradford, Chief Technology Officer of North Star.
Both cybersecurity notations align with unified requirements UR E26 and E27 set forth by the International Association of Class Societies (IACS), which become mandatory for new builds contracted after July 1, 2024. Notably, these vessels were ordered in 2023, before the cybersecurity notations were required. This underscores the determination and resilience behind the collaboration between Fincantieri's subsidiary VARD, Purus, and North Star.
The delivery of these two vessels marks a significant milestone for the maritime industry and highlights VARD and Fincantieri's leading role in the technological evolution of maritime operations,” says Cathrine Kristiseter Marti, CEO of VARD. “The maritime sector is experiencing a crucial transition with the increased adoption of digitally connected systems. These notations are vital for establishing baseline requirements and best practices to protect maritime operations against evolving cyber threats. The launch of these vessels showcases VARD’s and Fincantieri’s commitment to setting new standards and exploring innovative ways to create cyber-resilient infrastructures that enable our clients to manage cyber risks effectively.”
“Cyber resilience is at the forefront of our vessel focus today. We took the initiative early on to discuss this topic with our clients ahead of the regulations coming into play. Throughout these two deliveries, we have cultivated expertise across the VARD value chain and collaborated with our supply chain to foster a boat-wide mindset on cyber resilience. Together, this empowers North Star and Purus to better manage their cyber risks,” adds Amrit Bhullar, SVP of Business Development Group Innovation at VARD.
A significant portion of the systems onboard these vessels comes from Vard Electro’s SeaQ portfolio. Ensuring cybersecurity compliance with the latest regulations has required close cooperation with both clients and classification societies. Vard Electro has taken full responsibility for the cybersecurity integration testing across all onboard systems, proving their role as a trusted product provider and a forward-thinking technology integrator capable of meeting the evolving cybersecurity demands.
Cyber notations are essential for establishing baseline requirements and best practices to safeguard maritime operations against emerging threats. As shipboard systems become more digital and intricate, the demands placed on system integrators like Vard Electro are intensifying. With our SeaQ technology, we ensure our clients receive cyber-resilient solutions from the ground up,” explains Thomas Pedersen, SVP of Ship Technology at Vard Electro.
A critical aspect of this integration is ensuring that systems connect in a secure and controlled manner. As vessels become interconnected, linking systems can create vulnerabilities. Each connection must be meticulously designed to prevent unauthorized access, minimize attack surfaces, and maintain the integrity of essential operations. Henning Karleif Øye, VP of Cyber Resilience at VARD, notes that this achievement is a testament to our commitment.”
