Members of the South East Offshore Wind Partnership are highlighting the need for a greater awareness of protecting the sector against the threat of cyber security breaches.
Of the group, two members – the South East Technological University and Iarnród Éireann, which is the authority for Rosslare Europort - have come together with the aim of protecting the country's offshore energy generation and maritime sectors.
SETU and Iarnród Éireann have said this partnership is also about taking a proactive approach to help those in these sectors to comply with EU legislation, such as the Network and Information Security Directive, in the cyber security area that is already overdue for adoption into Irish law.
The legislation will require organisations in both the public and private sector to boost their cyber defences and see the introduction of more severe repercussions for non-compliance, including heavy fines and legal ramifications for managers.
It comes after the rights to develop a 900 megawatt (MW) offshore wind farm, known as the Tonn Nua project located off the coast of Co Waterford, were awarded to a joint venture between the ESB Group and Denmark’s Orsted at the end of November, with other similar projects already under way in the Irish and Celtic Seas.
SETU and Iarnród Éireann are to host a workshop at Rosslare Europort that they have said aims to educate and inform the industry about the "new regulatory regime and means of compliance".
SETU will also launch two new cyber security programmes that have been specifically tailored to the offshore energy generation and maritime sectors.
These include a master’s programme in cyber security and critical infrastructure, alongside a related certificate course.
Captain Phil Murphy, Project Manager for Offshore Wind at SETU, said organisations operating in the maritime and energy sectors are now facing "increasingly complex cyber security requirements".
He said: "The EU Network and Information Security (NIS2) Directive, which will be transposed into Irish law through the Cyber Security Act, introduces enhanced obligations for the protection of critical infrastructure.
"Ensuring compliance while maintaining operational resilience is now a priority for ports, transport operators and offshore energy developers alike."
He said SETU are "engaging continually with stakeholders to develop further programmes that respond to emerging skills needs and compliance requirements".
"The cyber security programmes launched today illustrate SETU’s strategic development of education offerings in the maritime space and the tangible benefits of the South East Offshore Wind Partnership," he added.
Meanwhile, Glenn Carr, Director of Commercial Business Units with Iarnród Éireann, said cyber security has never been more important given that Rosslare Europort has been fully digitised in recent years.
He said: "Keeping our systems safe ensures we can protect and maintain services in and out of the port.
"As the port grows so too do the cyber security requirements and working with our colleagues at SETU ensures that we have the skills to support the port, marine and offshore energy sectors in Ireland over the coming years."
Iarnród Éireann is already planning a major transformation of Rosslare Europort that will see an almost doubling in size of the existing port and the construction of a landmark facility that will allow for the further development of Ireland’s offshore wind energy industry.
The plan for this €220 million development was officially submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála last month.
