OT Cybersecurity Course for Smart Ships
Online 300-hour course in OT cybersecurity for smart ships. 6 modules covering MSC.428(98) Resolution on managing maritime cyber risk in safety management systems, IACS Unified Requirement E26 Cyber resilience of ships and Wireshark. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
OT Cybersecurity Course for Smart Ships — studying from the United Kingdom
Naval and offshore engineering is a significant sector in the United Kingdom, with shipbuilding and naval programmes on the Clyde, in Portsmouth, Barrow-in-Furness and Rosyth, and offshore energy activity in Aberdeen and the North Sea. Companies such as BAE Systems Maritime, Babcock and offshore service providers employ engineers in design, construction and maintenance. Sports nautical engineering, including yacht design and marine leisure, is concentrated in the Solent and South Coast. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency regulates shipping safety, and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects supports professional standards.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £455 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies relate to naval and marine engineering, and does SEIUM training count towards them?
Key UK bodies include the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Maritime qualifications are often regulated through the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for certificates of competency. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so any recognition would be decided by them separately.
Will UK offshore, naval or marine employers value a private online engineering qualification?
Employers in these sectors often prioritise certified competencies, sea-going experience and regulatory certificates. A private qualification may support your application where it shows relevant technical depth, but it does not replace statutory requirements. Acceptance is for each employer to decide, so consider how the qualification complements your existing certifications.
Can I study this online from the UK alongside offshore rotations, and is language support available?
Online study can be flexible, but rotation patterns make scheduling important, so plan around your time at sea or on site. Programmes are taught entirely in English, and each learner is assigned a technical tutor. No visa is required to study from within the UK. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify the critical OT systems on a ship and their vulnerabilities.
Apply the IMO and IACS regulatory framework on cyber resilience.
Assess cyber risks using zones and conduits in line with IEC 62443.
Design technical and organisational protection measures.
Plan detection and response to incidents on board.
Train crews in good cybersecurity practices.
Develop an OT cybersecurity plan in line with IACS E26 and E27.
Who it's for
- Maritime cybersecurity manager looking to specialise in OT Cybersecurity in smart ships.
- OT security engineer looking to specialise in OT Cybersecurity in smart ships.
- Naval cybersecurity auditor looking to specialise in OT Cybersecurity in smart ships.
- Technical superintendent looking to specialise in OT Cybersecurity in smart ships.
- Company security officer looking to specialise in OT Cybersecurity in smart ships.
- IACS compliance consultant looking to specialise in OT Cybersecurity in smart ships.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter shipping companies.
What you'll work with
- MSC.428(98) Resolution on managing maritime cyber risk in safety management systems
- IACS Unified Requirement E26 Cyber resilience of ships
- IACS Unified Requirement E27 Cyber resilience of onboard systems and equipment
- IEC 62443 Security for industrial automation and control systems
- MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3 Guidelines on maritime cyber risk management
- ISO/IEC 27001 Information security management systems
- Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2)
- BIMCO guidelines on cyber security onboard ships
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Differences between IT and operational technology1.2Propulsion, steering and power systems1.3Integrated navigation systems1.4Automation and cargo control1.5Onboard networks and segmentation1.6Manufacturers' remote access1.7OT systems lifecycle1.8Cyber-physical asset inventory1.9Known cyber incidents in the sector1.10Case study: OT asset inventory of a container ship
2.1MSC.428(98) Resolution and the ISM Code2.2IMO guidelines on cyber risk management2.3IACS Unified Requirements E26 and E272.4IEC 62443 series of standards2.5BIMCO guidelines on cyber security onboard2.6NIS2 Directive and maritime transport2.7Management systems under ISO/IEC 270012.8Relationship with the ISPS Code2.9Class and flag state audits2.10Practice: IACS E26 compliance matrix
3.1Identification of threats and vulnerabilities3.2Zones and conduits under IEC 624433.3Target security levels3.4Analysis of consequences for ship safety3.5Supply chain risks3.6Risks from mobile devices and USB drives3.7GNSS and AIS vulnerabilities3.8Prioritisation of mitigation measures3.9Risk register3.10Workshop: risk assessment of an integrated bridge
4.1Network segmentation and industrial firewalls4.2Secure remote access management4.3Patch management on embedded systems4.4Removable device control4.5Backup and recovery4.6Passive monitoring of OT networks4.7Device hardening4.8Crew training and awareness4.9Security requirements for suppliers4.10Laboratory: analysis of industrial traffic with Wireshark
5.1Anomaly detection in OT networks5.2Incident response plan on board5.3Operation in degraded and manual mode5.4Communication with shore and authorities5.5Incident reporting5.6Basic forensic analysis5.7Recovery of critical systems5.8Cyber exercises and drills5.9Lessons learned and continuous improvement5.10Case study: energy management incident
6.1Ship and scope6.2Asset inventory6.3Risk assessment6.4Secure network architecture6.5Technical and organisational measures6.6Incident response plan6.7Compliance matrix6.8Training plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Wireshark, Nmap, Nozomi Networks Guardian, Claroty, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: cyber risk assessment of a bridge system, design of a segmented onboard network, and a simulated response to a cyber incident. Assessment is continuous across modules, plus a final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Identify the critical OT systems on a ship and their vulnerabilities.
Apply the IMO and IACS regulatory framework on cyber resilience.
Assess cyber risks using zones and conduits in line with IEC 62443.
Design technical and organisational protection measures.
Plan detection and response to incidents on board.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- A sufficient level of English to follow technical standards texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You work with Wireshark, Nmap, Nozomi Networks Guardian, Claroty. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official title from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
Related programmes
Marine Hybrid Propulsion Course
Online 300-hour course in marine hybrid propulsion. 6 modules with DNV-RU-SHIP Pt.6 Ch.2 Sec.1 Battery power, IEC 62619 Safety requirements for industrial lithium batteries and MATLAB/Simulink.…
LNG as a Marine Fuel Course
The LNG as a Marine Fuel Course explores the implementation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an energy alternative in the maritime sector. It focuses on…
Edge Computing for Maritime Operations Course
Online 300-hour course in edge computing for maritime operations. 6 modules covering IACS UR E26, IACS UR E27 and Docker. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
More in Naval, Offshore & Sports Nautical
All Naval, Offshore & Sports Nautical programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships