marasi33-For final web

MARITIME EVENTS
For Augmented Reality experience, install Zappar App on your
iPhone or Android mobile and scan the ZapCode beside the article
Fichte & Co stimulates UAE’s
smart ambitions
A morning of captivatingly delivered insights, concluded with a live hacker demonstration to
further reinforce significant points discussed during panelist speakers’ presentations
Fichte & Co Legal, one of the UAE’s
leading law firms, recently held an informative
breakfast seminar at the
Ritz-Carlton, DIFC in Dubai, UAE.
Centered around cyber security, the
session tackled an increasingly relevant
topic given the maritime industry’s
progressive shift over the years
towards digitalization. With nearly
100 attendees from technology, legal
and insurance sectors present, discussions
resolved around best practices
for minimizing cyber attacks,
and tips for navigating rough waters
in the event of a cyber breach arising.
Before the seminar proceeded to
cycle through its lineup of reputable
speakers, Fichte & Co Legal Founder
and Managing Partner, Jasamin
Fichte, delivered her opening remarks
on behalf of the firm. Fichte stated,
“As the UAE seeks to be a leading
smart city, it must equally develop
its cyber security capabilities. In the
last 12 months, 39% of the industry
have experienced cyber-attacks,
34% didn’t have an IT policy and
47% believed the biggest cyber vulnerability
was their staff.”
Fichte further added, “These statistics
are all clear indicators which
highlight the fact that hacking isn’t
just something that happens in Hollywood
movies. Cyber attacks are a
real threat which requires the administration
of effective policies, and a
know-how for dealing with such situations,
because if you wait to worry
about it only once it happens, it will
be too late.”
Combatting a growing risk
Though the imitation of a company
and its personnel isn’t a common
occurrence, cyber crime is still possible
and does occur. A valid example
would be in 2013 when a group of
hackers infiltrated the operational
systems of a rig posted on the coast
of Africa. The consequence of not
being adequately secure resulted in a
19-day idle period to remove viruses
and malware before the rig was once
again deemed seaworthy. This is just
one of many signs indicating that the
maritime industry is highly vulnerable
to cyber breaches.
Jasamin Fichte
Managing Partner
In the last 12 months, 39% of the industry have
experienced cyber-attacks, 34% didn’t have an IT
policy and 47% believed the biggest cyber vulnerability
was their staff – Jasamin Fichte
Elaborating on the growing risk of
cyber attack in maritime was Capt.
Abdulla Darwish Al Hayyas, Federal
Transport Authority – Land
and Maritime Director of Maritime
Transport Affairs. Al Hayyas said,
“As the maritime industry continually
evolves, hackers are becoming equally
as deceptive. Modern technology
has enhanced ship operation by improving
efficiency and performance
but at the cost of opening ports, cargo
and other shipping aspects to the
vulnerability of cyber crime.”
Referencing the International Maritime
Organization’s role in combatting
this susceptibility, Al Hayyas
further added, “The IMO recognized
an urgent need to raise awareness
on cyber crime at its 98th session of
the Maritime Safety Committee in
June 2017, resulting in the adoption
of Resolution MSC.428(98). Compliance
aside, it is vital that ship owners
act now and implement cyber security
to ensure that their assets and
crewmembers are both protected.
Alessandro Tricoli
Fichte & Co Partner
Progressive future
The progression of maritime towards
embracing technology is
something that many would cite as
long overdue. Captain Tony Fields,
Lloyd’s Register VP of Middle East &
Africa for Marine & Offshore commented
on this notion saying, “In
comparison to other industries, the
maritime sector has been dinosaurlike
in its approach. Despite this, we
are gradually evolving and continuing
to prioritize safety while understanding
that everyone’s concern starts
from the top down and responsibility
should never be deflected.”
During his presentation on the
challenges of overcoming new cyber
risks, Fields highlighted a Copenhagen
Captain’s Chair being set up
to demonstrate the ability to easily
move an unmanned tug from
a remote location. Fields clarified,
“Though there aren’t a multitude of
unmanned vessels lying around with
systems waiting to be infiltrated, it
clearly is possible. As autonomy becomes
more prevalent going forward,
the discussion of who will be liable in
the future is still in question.”
A collective effort
“A good lawyer will ensure someone
else is liable,” Fichte & Co Partner,
Alessandro Tricoli joked before
discussing legal implications of cyber
crime and the importance of
due diligence. Tricoli stated, “There
is no magic formula. Unless you are
fully disconnected from the internet,
a task that is nearly impossible to
achieve in today’s society, making cyber
crime unavoidable. It’s not a matter
of if you’ll be hacked, it’s a matter
of when you’ll be hacked and knowing
how to go about it.”
Offering his expert insight on how
to handle a breach, Tricoli explained,
“Be transparent. Ensure your IT department
is not fearful of risking job
security so that they will report an
incident upon recognition. This will
enable you to immediately identify
the ransomware or human error and
work towards effectively stopping it.
By being honest, your business and
others in the industry will benefit
with much needed industry knowledge
as we collectively seek to promote
safe and secure shipping.”
82 MARCH - APRIL 2019 MARASINEWS.COM 83