
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75574-75575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29658]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2014-1020]


Guidance on Maritime Cybersecurity Standards

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is developing policy to help vessel and 
facility operators identify and address cyber-related vulnerabilities 
that could contribute to a Transportation Security Incident. Coast 
Guard regulations require certain vessel and facility operators to 
conduct security assessments, and to develop security plans that 
address vulnerabilities identified by the security assessment. The 
Coast Guard is seeking public input from the maritime industry and 
other interested parties on how to identify and mitigate potential 
vulnerabilities to cyber-dependent systems. The Coast Guard will 
consider these public comments in developing relevant guidance, which 
may include standards, guidelines, and best practices to protect 
maritime critical infrastructure.

DATES: Comments must be submitted to the online docket via http://www.regulations.gov, or reach the Docket Management Facility, on or 
before February 17, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments using one of the listed methods, and see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for more information on public comments.
     Online--http://www.regulations.gov following Web site 
instructions.
     Fax--202-493-2251.
     Mail or hand deliver--Docket Management Facility (M-30), 
U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Hours 
for hand delivery are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays (telephone 202-366-9329).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document 
call or email LT Josephine Long, Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1109, 
email Josephine.A.Long@uscg.mil or LCDR Joshua Rose, Coast Guard; 202-
372-1106, email Joshua.D.Rose@uscg.mil. For information about viewing 
or submitting material to the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826, toll free 1-800-
647-5527.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments (or related material) on the 
questions listed below. We will consider all submissions and may adjust 
our final policy actions based on your comments. Comments should be 
marked with docket number USCG-2014-1020, and should provide a reason 
for each suggestion or recommendation. You should provide personal 
contact information so that we can contact you if we have questions 
regarding your comments; but please note that all comments will be 
posted to the online docket without change and that any personal 
information you include can be searchable online (see the Federal 
Register Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets, 73 FR 3316, 
Jan. 17, 2008).
    Mailed or hand-delivered comments should be in an unbound 8\1/2\ x 
11 inch format suitable for reproduction. The Docket Management 
Facility will acknowledge receipt of mailed comments if you enclose a 
stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope with your submission.
    Documents mentioned in this notice, and all public comments, are in 
our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by 
following the Web site's instructions. You can also view the docket at 
the Docket Management Facility (see the mailing address under 
ADDRESSES) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

Discussion

    The Coast Guard is developing policy to help vessel and facility 
operators identify and address cyber-related vulnerabilities that could 
contribute to a Transportation Security Incident (TSI).\1\ Coast Guard 
regulations require certain vessel and facility operators to conduct 
security assessments, and to develop security plans that address 
vulnerabilities identified by the security assessment.\2\ Vessel and 
facility security plans must also address specific security functions, 
including the following:
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    \1\ A Transportation Security Incident is defined in 33 CFR 
101.105 to mean ``a security incident resulting in a significant 
loss of life, environmental damage, transportation system 
disruption, or economic disruption in a particular area.''
    \2\ 33 CFR parts 104 and 105, subparts C and D.

 Communications
 Security Training Requirements
 Procedures for vessel/facility interfacing
 Declaration of Security
 Security Systems and Equipment Maintenance
 Security Measures for Access Control
 Security Measures for Handling Cargo
 Security Measures for Monitoring
 Security Incident Procedures

The Coast Guard is seeking public input on the following questions:
    (1) What cyber-dependent systems, commonly used in the maritime 
industry, could lead or contribute to a TSI if they failed, or were 
exploited by an adversary?
    (2) What procedures or standards do vessel and facility operators 
now employ to identify potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities to their 
operations?
    (3) Are there existing cybersecurity assurance programs in use by 
industry that the Coast Guard could recognize? If so, to what extent do 
these programs address vessel or facility systems that could lead to a 
TSI?
    (4) To what extent do current security training programs for vessel 
and facility personnel address cybersecurity risks and best practices?
    (5) What factors should determine when manual backups or other non-
technical approaches are sufficient to address cybersecurity 
vulnerabilities?
    (6) How can the Coast Guard leverage Alternative Security Programs 
\3\ to help vessel and facility operators address cybersecurity risks?
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    \3\ An Alternative Security Program is defined in 33 CFR 101.105 
to mean ``a third-party or industry organization developed standard 
that the Commandant [of the Coast Guard] has determined provides an 
equivalent level of security to that established by [33 CFR Chapter 
I, Subchapter H].''
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    (7) How can vessel and facility operators reliably demonstrate to 
the Coast Guard that critical cyber-systems meet appropriate technical 
or procedural standards?
    (8) Do classification societies, protection and indemnity clubs, or 
insurers recognize cybersecurity best practices that could help the 
maritime industry and the Coast Guard address

[[Page 75575]]

cybersecurity risks? (See also http://www.dhs.gov/publication/cybersecurity-insurance.)

Authority

    This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: December 12, 2014.
Captain Andrew Tucci,
Chief, Office of Port & Facility Compliance, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2014-29658 Filed 12-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


