ICHCA community to discuss protection against physical and cyber attacks

Responding to this, ICHCA International, the voice of global cargo handling, has picked issues surrounding security as one of five key areas for focused discussions at its 65th anniversary event which takes place in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, 2-6 October 2017.

Part of ICHCA’s #makeitsecure campaign, the Physical and Cyber Security session on Day 2 of the ICHCA Conference will feature a presentation from Rafael Company, R&D Project Manager, Valenciaport Foundation who will present the SAURON project (Scalable multidimensional situation awareness solution for protecting European ports) which aims to keep ports secure by taking a holistic view of critical infrastructures. The system combines and interlinks physical and cyber security systems to analyse vulnerabilities and interdependencies. ICHCA International was pleased to talk to Mr Company at length about the project in a recent guest editorial.

Joining him from Novae, a diversified property and casualty (re)insurance business operating through Syndicate 2007 at Lloyd’s of London, will be Sharif Gardner, Head of Training Underwriting – Marine, Aviation, Political Risk & Specialty. Mr Gardner is responsible for shaping the education of Brokers, Underwriters and End-Clients on cyber security risks and has been involved with the launch of the new ‘Be Cyber Aware At Sea’ campaign, of which ICHCA is proud to be a supporter. Also speaking in the session will be David Fairnie, Principal Consultant, Supply Chain Security at EMEA, BSI; Jorge Martin Diaz de Espada, HSSE Global Manager at Terminal Investment Limited; and Cecilia Muller Torbrand, Programme Director of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN).

The session will examine security challenges and responses, different industry initiatives on cyber security, how to marry security with the need for speed in cargo handling operations, how to share information securely, how to secure the physical environment and it will look at systems that provide solutions to multidimensional security issues. “The nature of the global cargo chain makes it particularly vulnerable to security threats given the involvement of multiple parties cooperating and sharing information and systems”, said Rachael White, CEO Secretariat of ICHCA International. “Moreover, there has been a noteable lack of consideration given to cyber-threats by regulators and industry stakeholders alike until very recently. Despite these challenges, it is critical to the future of cargo operations that the industry engenders a change in security culture to incorporate cyber security issues. We need to embrace new mechanisms and technologies that will enable us to improve the security of the global cargo chain.” How blockchain technology and the Internet of Things could potentially improve security in the cargo chain will be a topic for discussion in the Conference’s SMART session, also on Day 2.

ICHCA’s flagship event will bring together the big names in cargo handling to discuss the best ways to improve as an industry. Keynote speeches will be delivered by Mr Westwood-Booth, Senior Deputy Director of the Sub-Division for Marine Technology and Cargoes in the Maritime Safety Division at the International Maritime Organization; Günther Bonz, President, FEPORT; and Olaf Merk, Administrator Ports and Shipping, International Transport Forum, OECD.

The two day conference is staged as part of an extensive programme that also includes an exhibition of products and services, site visit to the Port of Las Palmas – a key hub for African international trade – and icebreaker reception on 2 October and 65th Anniversary Reception & Awards Evening, on 3 October, where winners will be announced for ICHCA’s 2nd TT Club Innovation in Safety Award, the Annual Las Palmas Port Awards and special ICHCA John Strang A.O. Memorial Award for a significant contribution to the cargo handling industry. The Conference & Exhibition will be followed by the 78th meeting of ICHCA’s ISP Technical Panel on 5 October and annual CARC meeting on 6 October. Global Shippers Forum will also host its AGM on 2 October as part of the week-long gathering.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/shipping/11082017/ichca-community-to-discuss-protection-against-physical-and-cyber-attacks/