Fishing Vessel Monitoring Systems: Past, Present and Future

VMS: Past, Present and Future 20
the PC to the input to the transmitter is quite straightforward as they are both
generally RS-232 data streams.�
3.10 Specifying equipment
Architectural and physical tests serve only to underline the vulnerability of much
of the equipment currently being used for VMS. Furthermore, so long as vessel
operators have the right to choose their VMS shipboard equipment, its is
essential that all available models be equally resistant.
3.10.1 Type approval
In order to achieve this goal, there could appear to be two possible solutions:
One would be the approach taken by Australia, New Zealand and the USA which
is to type-approve specific models of terminal that have already been vetted for
their resistance to tampering. The problem here is that some authorities, like the
European Commission, have always resisted, for political reasons, naming
specific equipment. Such an approach can leave the door open to the use of
equipment with an unsuitable level of security.
3.10.2 Norms and standards
The other solution would involve creating a set of security norms and standards
for VMS equipment and having these specifications accepted and published by
one of the international standards organizations, such as the ISO. Once this
were accomplished, the competent authority would then only have to adopt the
standard as part of its VMS specification to assure that all new VMS equipment
that is fitted be of that recognized security standard. It is not clear, however,
which body might be willing to carry out this considerable work and to become
the “guardian” of VMS norms and standards.
3.10.3 Existing terminals
As far as the thousands of terminals already operational aboard fishing vessels,
the solution here would be to regulate that the operators of these vessels be
obliged to upgrade their shipboard VMS units to ones that are in accordance with
the new international standard within a specified period. As one would
reasonably expect that any investments in shipboard equipment would amortized
by the end of five years at the very latest, it would be very difficult for fishing
vessel operators to mount a credible challenge to such a regulation.
The use of, and reliance upon, VMS is expanding all the time. For this reason it
is essential that, at the very earliest possible date, definitive measures be taken
to plug the exiting holes in the VMS security fabric as security errors made now
are likely to haunt VMS for years to come.