Maritime Cyber Threats research group
Investigating marine cyber threats and researching solutions
Research objectives
- Compiling a body of knowledge for maritime cyber-threats.
- Vulnerability and risk analysis for existing ship-based systems (IT&OT).
- Holistic scenario-based training and cross-discipline visualisation.
- Supply chain vulnerabilities for maritime systems and operations.
- Cyber-security for autonomous vessels, ports, and offshore structures.
- Policy changes for secure standards and training for next gen mariners.
- Understanding psychological perceptions of, and responses to, threats.
- Develop effective recovery strategies in the event of an attack.
- Analyse cyber-physical and ship to shore/space/ship interactions.
- cybersecurity, communications and network research
- maritime policy, law, business, and economics
- system penetration testing, audit testing
- data visualisation, augmented/virtual reality
- hardware design and circuitry
- artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning (ML)
- maritime/naval history, 20th/21st century literature
- clean maritime and autonomous solutions
- navigation and maritime science, mariner training
- psychology.
Find out more about our research:publications, news, and talks
Key projects
Significant research with academia, government, and industry.
Cyber-SHIP Lab symposium 2023
International Maritime Organization, London
1–2 November
Interview and scenarios
Lab culture
Related news
- University and International Maritime Organization hold annual cyber symposium 9 November 2023
- University strengthens cyber security links across Australia 5 October 2023
- Showcasing the University's expertise at London International Shipping Week 14 September 2023
- University contributes to major report examining changes needed in the global maritime industry 13 September 2023
- Project aims to ensure offshore renewable innovations remain cyber-secure 5 September 2023
Past visitors and projects
Some of the research assistants, research fellows, visiting researchers, work experience students and interns who have worked with the research group.
I very much enjoyed my time at the University of Plymouth and hope we can continue working together on research projects, bids and papers throughout my career in maritime technology.
Cybersecurity was previously a little outside my comfort zone. But that’s now changed thanks to my experience with the Maritime Cyber Threats research group. The knowledge I have gained will be extremely useful going forwards with my coursework and personal projects. Spending time with the Cyber-SHIP Lab team has been enormously beneficial and rewarding – I’ve come out of this feeling more open to doing more postgraduate study, and am more interested in cybersecurity.
It was beneficial for me as an educated seafarer to work with the Cyber-SHIP Lab team, as they are a diverse and interesting group of people, with interests in everything from governance and policy making to IT engineering and ship operation. I got to participate in both theoretical research work on cyber risk management and practical research following maritime cyber training in the maritime ship simulators. Gaining international competence has yielded opportunities for me to apply for international jobs and, after completing my PhD, I will start working for DNV, where the international experience is sure to be a benefit.
I am so happy and honoured to been involved in Cyber-SHIP Lab; it was the key point in my research and I am grateful for the help of the research staff.
Staff profiles
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Dr Kimberly Tam
Associate Professor in Cybersecurity
Centre for Security, Communications and Network Research
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Professor Kevin Jones
Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Research and Innovation
Centre for Security, Communications and Network Research
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Mrs Chloe Rowland
Project and Knowledge Exchange Manager - Cyber-SHIP Lab
Project and Knowledge Exchange Manager for Cyber-SHIP
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Dr Rory Hopcraft
Lecturer in Cyber Security
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Miss Avanthika Vineetha Harish
Industrial Researcher - Pentesting
Cyber-SHIP Lab
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Mr Luke Christison
Researcher - Data Visualisation
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Mr Juan Dorje Palbar Misas
Research Assistant/Fellow in Navigation and Maritime Cyber
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Mr Kevin Forshaw
Director of Industrial and Strategic Partnerships
Marine Commercialisation
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Mr Tom Crichton
Associate Head of School (Recruitment)
Navigation and maritime science
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Dr Elaine Murphy
Associate Professor In History
Maritime History
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Mr Tim Davies
Senior Technician (Navigation & Maritime Science)
Navigation and maritime science
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Mr Aaron Barrett
Technical Specialist (Marine Autonomous Systems)
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Mr Wesley Andrews
Project Engineer/Technician - Cyber - SHIP Lab
Maritime Cyber Threat – contact
Professor Kevin D. Jones Executive Dean Faculty of Science and Engineering