As the tugboat, towboat and barge industry evolves to meet its operational and informational needs with technology and becomes increasingly reliant on cyber systems, it faces new challenges. Cyber crime is proliferating, and cyber disruptions – whether from an attack or from an accident – can have far-reaching consequences.

 

It is important for AWO members to understand and take steps to reduce the risks of cyber-related incidents. AWO is committed to supporting our members in these efforts by providing them with opportunities to hear from industry experts and by working with the Coast Guard through the Coast Guard-AWO Safety Partnership. The Safety Partnership’s National Quality Steering Committee established the Cyber Risk Management Quality Action Team in 2017, and in 2018, the QAT released Cyber Risk Management Best Practices for the Towing Industry, which AWO members may use as a toolbox to assess and mitigate cyber risks.

 

To join the Cyber Risk Management Quality Action Team, please contact John Young.