The latest approval from a classification society against IACS UR E27 confirms the secure design of NexusWave and strengthens Inmarsat Maritime’s dedication to assisting ship operators with their cyber, operational, and compliance challenges.
Inmarsat Maritime, part of Viasat, has been granted Cyber Security Type Approval from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) for NexusWave, its managed connectivity service that operates over multiple networks.
This approval shows that NexusWave meets the standards set by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) Unified Requirement E27 (UR E27), marking an important step in Inmarsat Maritime’s plan to provide secure and reliable connectivity for the increasingly digital maritime sector. This follows another approval for NexusWave from ClassNK against the same IACS requirement earlier this year, giving more independent validation of the service's security measures.
The BV Type Approval, driven by customer needs, shows that Inmarsat Maritime can support ship operators using various classification standards, allowing for seamless deployment of NexusWave across different fleets while meeting specific vessel class criteria.
Inmarsat Maritime collaborated with BV to prove that the NexusWave architecture and security measures fulfill the IACS UR E27 requirements. BV's evaluation focused on the security controls and overall system for NexusWave, which included the onboard ICT architecture, network equipment, orchestration processes, and managed service infrastructure.
Instead of looking at each component separately, the review assessed how these parts work as a combined system to ensure cyber resilience in the onboard connectivity environment.
Gert-Jan Panken, General Manager and Vice President at Inmarsat Maritime, stated: “The maritime industry is becoming more connected, which increases the need for cyber resilience in onboard operations and business activities. This approval shows our dedication to helping customers embrace digitalization confidently, while ensuring the security, reliability, and compliance essential for critical maritime communications.”
“Not only does this approval confirm NexusWave's compliance with IACS UR E27, but it also highlights the strength and flexibility of our strategy. By collaborating with various classification societies, we assist ship operators in navigating changing cyber security demands while implementing a consistent connectivity platform across different global fleets. Secure connectivity is now key to improving operational efficiency, safety, compliance, and crew wellbeing.”
Christophe Chauviere, Senior Vice-President at Bureau Veritas, remarked: “Cyber resilience is increasingly important as shipboard systems become more connected and integrated. IACS UR E27 provides a standard framework to evaluate whether onboard systems and equipment have the necessary cyber security measures.”
“In our assessment of NexusWave, we looked at the onboard ICT architecture and relevant components as a single system. The Type Approval ensures that NexusWave meets UR E27's requirements and gives ship operators confidence that cyber resilience was considered in the design and implementation of the solution.”
NexusWave effectively combines various connectivity sources, such as GEO, LEO, LTE, and L-band, into a single managed service. Its architecture has built-in security features, including network segmentation and encryption, along with centrally managed security functions to support robust connectivity for corporate, operational, and crew needs.
BV’s Type Approval adds to the growing list of NexusWave’s independent cyber security certifications and further solidifies Inmarsat Maritime’s role as a trusted partner in secure maritime digitalization. As vessel connectivity systems continue to advance, Inmarsat Maritime is committed to helping customers reap the rewards of continuous, multi-network communications while adapting to evolving cyber security and classification needs in the maritime industry.