Cyber resilience approval for Damen Triton

As the quantity of digital data harvested from an increasing number of individual items of equipment on modern vessels increases, something that goes hand in hand with increasingly reliable connectivity, so does the ability for personnel ashore to share information with those on the vessel itself. In turn, owners and operators can take a proactive approach in both the operation, trouble-shooting and maintenance of their assets.

All Damen newbuilds, more than 150 a year including tugs and workboats, are fitted with the Triton platform. It allows data from a vessel’s engines, pumps, hydraulics, alarms and other equipment, amounting to more than 10,000 signals from a single vessel. to be communicated to the crew and others ashore. Triton can also be retrofitted to existing vessels as it can co-exist with legacy systems. Data are presented via on-board and remote dashboards, allowing the equipment health to be tracked along with maintenance scheduling and more.

As the importance of such data to the vessel’s operation increases, so does the requirement to ensure a high degree of cyber resilience. The recent receipt of type approval, described as ‘a significant milestone for the platform’, is the result of close collaboration between Damen Digital Solutions, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and BV.

Damen says that from the outset it has focused on cyber security and procedures with Triton’s development, including “hardening the gateway” and implementing procedures in software and firmware updates as well as data security at rest and transit along with a robust risk management process.

To achieve the type approval, Triton met cyber security requirements described in BV Rule Note NR 659 R02, also making it compliant with the requirement of IACS UR E27 that will enter force for all contracts signed after 1 January 2024.

Regu Ayyaswamy, Global Head, IoT & Digital Engineering, TCS said: “The Triton IoT Platform is the perfect example of how digital technology can transform an industry. It is an industry-leading solution that enables unlocking exponential business for Damen and also benefits its ecosystem and the wider society.

“TCS is proud to partner Damen Digital Solution BV in this unique initiative that will ensure best-in-class security measures for the Marine IoT ecosystem and will set an industry benchmark.”