The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has launched the Maritime Testbed of Shipboard Operational Technology (MariOT), an industrial-grade cyber-physical platform designed for shipboard cybersecurity training and technology testing.
Developed in collaboration with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and industry partners, with support from the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI), the SUTD-based facility aims to address cybersecurity risks affecting Operational Technology (OT) systems on board ships.
MariOT will offer simulations of key maritime systems, including navigation, propulsion, and power management, allowing maritime professionals to gain hands-on experience in managing cyber threats, refine best practices and test cybersecurity response protocols.
MPA plans to integrate MariOT training into academic curricula for maritime-related courses through partnerships with Institutes of Higher Learning. International collaborations will also be explored to improve the facility’s simulation capabilities and support the development of global cybersecurity standards.
Over the next three years, more than 300 students and professionals, including ship crew, cybersecurity specialists, and port operators, are expected to benefit from MariOT training.
“MariOT offers cyber solution providers a practical platform to test and develop their solutions in a realistic maritime environment,” said David Foo, Assistant Chief Executive (Operations Technology), MPA.
“At the same time, it plays a key role in upskilling our workforce to address the growing cybersecurity challenges in the industry. We welcome partners to use MariOT and work with us to enhance its capabilities, ensuring it remains effective in tackling evolving cyber threats.”
SUTD, in partnership with MPA, will host the first MariOT cybersecurity training exercise from 27 to 28 March 2025. The exercise will simulate cyber threats targeting OT systems onboard vessels, testing participants’ ability to detect intrusions and implement incident response protocols.
The exercise is supported by experts from iTrust, SUTD’s cybersecurity research centre, as well as the Maritime Cybersecurity Centre at the Estonian Maritime Academy and the School of IT at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech).
In related news, MPA has also announced the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to collaborate on research and development, talent development, workforce upskilling, support for startup maritime businesses, and regulatory alignment.
As part of the five-year arrangement, ABS will establish the ABS Singapore Maritime Safety Centre, designed to provide immersive training for seafarers and maritime professionals in support of the MPA’s Maritime Energy Training Facility (METF).
ABS is investing US$4.5 million in the centre, which will employ virtual reality and game-based training systems to simulate realistic training scenarios with varying levels of complexity.
