As shipping becomes increasingly connected and data-driven, cybersecurity in 2026 is no longer just an IT concern – it is a business, safety, and regulatory risk. Xerxes Kiok Kan, our Head of Information Security, Governance, Risk & Compliance, points out that regulators, owners, and auditors now demand evidence of effective controls. For shipowners and operators, the differentiator is demonstrable, consistent resilience at scale.
Key changes in 2026
Three structural shifts are reshaping maritime cyber risk:
- Accelerating connectivity: Starlink and hybrid networks are eliminating the historical isolation of vessels, exposing shipboard systems to corporate-level threats.
- Increased Operational Technology (OT) integration: Efficiency gains bring higher risk when segmentation or access governance fails.
- Tightening regulation: Cybersecurity is now governed by both maritime and shore‑side laws, with stronger accountability and significant penalties.
In 2026, cyber threats in the maritime industry are familiar, but their operational impact is intensifying: ransomware and extortion affecting vessel operations; business email compromise and impersonation; third-party and supply chain vulnerabilities; OT exposure and weak segmentation; and human factor risks such as phishing and procedural workarounds. The challenge is ensuring controls are consistently applied and evidenced across fleets and shore operations.
Regulation: Catching up at sea and ashore
Cybersecurity failures now result in clear financial, regulatory, and reputational consequences.
- Maritime expectations: IMO cyber risk management under MSC.428(98) remains the baseline and is increasingly scrutinised. The IMO’s 2025 Guidelines reference IACS UR E26/E27, ISO/IEC 27001, and the NIST CSF, signalling a shift towards operational expectations.
- Shoreside laws: Maritime transport now falls under national critical infrastructure regimes, including Hong Kong’s Protection of Critical Infrastructures (Computer Systems) Ordinance (effective 1 Jan 2026) and the EU NIS2 Directive, which designates maritime as a high criticality sector.
Penalties include:
– NIS2: up to €10M or 2% of global turnover
– Hong Kong: up to HK$5M plus daily fines
In 2026, compliance does not equal resilience. True resilience requires OT cyber discipline, asset visibility, segmentation, controlled remote access, clear roles and escalation paths, and measurable controls across shore and vessel environments. Resilience is demonstrated through practice instead of paperwork.
Shore and vessel: One risk, one model
Modern connectivity means vessels must be protected to corporate standards: baseline hardening, identity and access governance, remote access monitoring, and practical, behaviour-focused crew training. Cybersecurity functions as an operating model.
Acceleration continues in IT/OT integration, telemetry, remote support, automation of fleet workflows, and early autonomous capabilities – each increasing dependency on governed, trustworthy systems.
Risk spotlight: AI adoption, governance gaps, and privacy exposure
AI is rapidly entering maritime operations. The key question is governance: accountability for AI approvals, frameworks such as ISO/IEC 42001, data isolation, access control, logging, supply chain risk, and prevention of cross customer data leakage.
On the other hand, crew data privacy is critical: AI workflows often process sensitive data, creating potential joint controllership exposure and GDPR style liabilities.
From regulation to resilience: What separates leaders
Anglo-Eastern’s approach includes the following:
- Independent validation:
Anglo-Eastern has completed independent third-party validation by BSI of its NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 implementation, alongside ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO 22301:2019, and Cyber Essentials certifications. This assures stakeholders that controls are implemented, tested, and evidenced at scale. - Standardisation across shore and fleet:
Standardised, repeatable controls are applied across offices and vessels, enabling predictable operations, consistent audit readiness, and operational continuity. - Close collaboration with owners:
Anglo-Eastern partners with owners to align standards and processes with evolving regulations, focusing on practical risk reduction and operational delivery.
Leaders validate early, evidence continuously, and embed cyber resilience into daily operations, shaping how regulators assess maturity and how owners evaluate managers.
If you are interested in knowing more about our services and offerings, including but not limited to ship management, crew management, newbuilding services, and innovative projects onboard our managed fleet, feel free to contact us.
