Author Archives: HM Government

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

It’s a real pleasure to be here.

This is my first experience of London International Shipping Week.

I’ve heard so many positive things about it.

So I’m delighted to be able to join you today (13 September 2017).

And to talk about an issue which has such profound significance in our modern world.

Cyber security is an increasing concern for many industries across the global economy.

And that certainly includes maritime.

Anything that threatens the reliability and performance of a shipping sector that carries 95% of our trade has to be taken seriously.

In some areas, maritime continues to rely on legacy systems using old software and aging operational technology.

There is also growing dependence on information systems with the development of new technologies — such as autonomous or partially-autonomous vessels.

This has the potential to make the industry more vulnerable to cyber attacks.

And the implications of such vulnerabilities could be highly damaging.

Poor cyber security undermines customer confidence and industry reputation, and could potentially result in severe financial losses or penalties, and litigation affecting the companies involved.

The disruption caused by a cyber attack – or a compromised system — could be significant too.

Just consider what a compromised ship system could trigger:

• physical harm to the system or the shipboard personnel or cargo — potentially endangering lives or the loss of the ship
• the loss of sensitive information, including commercially sensitive or personal data
• criminal activity, including kidnap, piracy, fraud, theft of cargo, or imposition of ransomware

Even if the problem is on a much smaller scale, it could play havoc with an industry that requires order and reliability to operate efficiently.

Cyber security is not just about preventing hackers gaining access to systems and information.

It’s also about protecting digital assets and information, ensuring business continuity, and making sure the maritime industry is resilient to outside threats.

That means not only keeping ship systems safe from physical attack, but also ensuring that supporting systems are robust.

So that in the event of an incident, appropriate practices and technologies are in place to limit any damage.

There is also the need for personnel security — guarding against the possible threat from insiders, either shore or shipboard-based.

Ship owners and operators need to understand cyber security and promote awareness of the subject to their staff and business partners.

In recent years the government has demonstrated how seriously we take the cyber security threat.

The 2015 National Security Strategy reaffirmed cyber as a Tier One risk to UK interests.

We have dedicated cyber security teams in a range of departments working with the industry, manufacturers, international partners and academia.

This includes officials within the Department for Transport.

We have a team that works with shipping industry partners, port operators and vessels traffic services (VTS) organisations.

And have cyber security teams working with other transport sectors — such as aviation, rail, and connected and autonomous vehicles.

Our aims are to:

• understand the cyber threat and the vulnerabilities for the transport sector
• mitigate cyber risks and take appropriate action to protect key assets
• respond to cyber incidents effectively and ensure that lessons are learnt

and promote cultural change, raise awareness and build cyber capability.

The government also established the National Cyber Security Centre in 2016 — again to work with the industry on this increasingly complex subject.

You will be hearing from the security centre in just a few moments.

All this preparation is time — and money — well spent.

Because in recent months, we have seen some high profile cyber attacks hit various part of the economy.

Including maritime.

The NotPetya cyber attack in June (2017) hit many different organisations across the globe including some in the shipping sector.

It showed that the industry is vulnerable to these type of attacks.

And we may encounter many more in the years to come.

So we want to support the maritime sector to help you manage your cyber security risks.

That’s why I want to tell you about the Department for Transport’s new Cyber Security code of practice for ships.

You should have some hard copies with you, but it is also available on gov.uk from today.

This guidance is aimed at ship operators, ship owners and crew members.

Businesses of all sizes.

And it will help you:

• develop a cyber security assessment and plan
• devise the most appropriate mitigation measures
• ensure you have the correct structures, roles, responsibilities and processes in place

and manage security breaches and incidents.

It also highlights the key national and international standards and regulations that should be reviewed and followed.

The Department for Transport commissioned the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) to produce the code of practice.

It has also received input from experts at the Maritime Coastguard Agency, Maritime Accident and Investigation Branch, the MoD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, and the National Cyber Security Centre.

The guidance will complement the work being done by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to raise awareness of cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

This code of practice explains why it is essential that cyber security be considered as part of a holistic approach throughout a ship’s lifecycle.

As well as setting out the potential impact if threats are ignored.

The code of practice is intended to be used as an integral part of a risk management system to ensure that cyber security is delivered cost effectively as part of mainstream business.

This latest code of practice follows on from last year’s publication of the well-received Cyber security code of practice for ports and port systems, which is also available on GOV.UK.

The ports code of practice was also written by IET, so both guidance documents are consistent in their approach.

We hope you find it of value, and encourage you to consider all the advice.

We will continue to work with you all and seek to ensure that the UK’s transport sector remains safe, secure and resilient in the face of cyber threats, and able to thrive in an increasingly interconnected, digital world.

Thank you.

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Facts and figures on the UK government’s relief work in the Caribbean and the British Overseas Territories in response to Hurricane Irma.

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Thank you, it’s great to be here for the opening event of London International Shipping Week 2017.

Three hundred and thirty years ago, and just a short walk from here, an entrepreneur by the name of Edward Lloyd opened a new coffee shop.

It soon became popular with London’s maritime community; its sailors, ship-owners and merchants.

Good coffee fueled good conversation, as the patrons debated the latest shipping and maritime business news.

Edward Lloyd’s shop was a great success.

So much so that it led to the creation of Lloyd’s of London, Lloyd’s Register, and Lloyd’s List.

That’s just one example of how the City of London’s success as a financial city is interwoven with its success as a maritime city.

There are others.

The Bank of England was established so that the government could fund a new navy.

The prices in this stock exchange have long been connected to the movement of the world’s trade by sea.

Today London remains the world’s leading supplier of shipbroking services.

More vessels are insured here than from any other location in the world.

English law is applied to more shipping disputes than that of any other country, with legal services often provided by the City’s commercial law firms.

Today London provides a home to many leading maritime bodies: the International Maritime Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping, the Baltic Exchange – and many more.

And 330 years on from when Edward Lloyd opened his coffee shop, the combined expertise of the Lloyd’s market and the International Underwriting Association of London, make the City the best destination in the world for insuring complex risk.

So the City of London has a maritime economy as much as it has a financial economy.

And when one grows, often so does the other.

So today (11 September 2017) I am pleased to commit to a target.

I want to more-than double the size UK fleet – the ships flying the UK flag – from the 14 million tonnes it was 2 years ago to 30 million tonnes.

I have given the UK Shipping Register the resources it needs to achieve that target.

It will be a challenge, but a worthwhile challenge.

It’ll put us back into the top 15 shipping nations on earth.

And it’ll increase the number of ships brokered here, insured here and sailing from here.

So I am thrilled to open London International Shipping Week 2017 from the London Stock Exchange.

This is the week that brings the world’s shipping home to London.

A week that makes plain the unbreakable link between the high seas and high finance.

It’s a week for London, for shipping, and for the world.

Thank you.

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The Environment Agency and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have officially agreed to carry out joint operations across England to cut the transportation of illegal waste and to improve road safety.

The memorandum of understanding signed today by chief executives, Sir James Bevan and Gareth Llewellyn will see the Environment Agency and the DVSA using their combined enforcement powers to tackle the transportation of waste to illegal or poorly-performing permitted sites.

The agreement will involve:

• DVSA staff located within EA teams to ensure a coordinated and effective approach,
• sharing of information to increase the effectiveness of roadside enforcement on waste industry vehicles up and down the country;
• providing enforcement teams with intelligence relating to waste industry operators
• identifying high risk or illegal goods vehicle operators involved in waste transport
• reducing the number of seriously and serially non-compliant waste industry vehicles on England’s roads.

The Environment Agency and DVSA have worked together for a number of years to stop waste crime, making sure companies are operating legally and vehicle safety is improved. This agreement will enable the two organisations to tackle waste crime more efficiently by intervening earlier in the waste chain and using prevention tactics.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive, Environment Agency said:

We want to protect people and communities from the impact that vehicle and waste crime can have and create a level playing field for all operators.

This Memorandum of Understanding with the DVSA will help both organisations work with the waste industry to improve compliance and vehicle and driver safety standards.

To help us with this, we are encouraging people to check with the Environment Agency if the company they are employing to take their waste away is a fully registered waste carrier.

DVSA’s Chief Executive, Gareth Llewellyn, said:

DVSA priority is to protect you from unsafe drivers and vehicles. I am delighted that we will be working with the Environment Agency to tackle those who illegally transport waste. By combining our enforcement powers and intelligence we’ll be able work with those who break the rules more effectively.

DVSA traffic examiners will issue fines to those waste carriers we find to be operating in and unsafe manner. These operators are putting themselves and other road users at risk and pose a danger to our environment.

Anyone who suspects that an operator is transporting waste in an unsafe manner should report their concerns to DVSA on 0300 123 9000 or enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk.

Members of the public can check if a waste company is registered with the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506 and at www.gov.uk/waste-carrier-or-broker-registration.

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