Cybersecurity, cloud connectivity engineered in newbuild UK buoy tenders 

When Vard builds two multi-functional buoy and lighthouse maintenance vessels for the UK’s Trinity House, they will have the latest cybersecurity, energy management system, data analytics and bridge electronics.

The UK’s general lighthouse authority (GLA) has ordered two newbuild VARD 9 601-design vessels from Fincantieri Group subsidiary Vard in a E220M (US$250M) contract for navigation buoy tending, hydrographic surveys and emergency response and removing hazards to navigation.

This GLA for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar, anticipates their delivery from one of Vard’s shipyards in Norway in Q2 and Q4 2029 to replace the ageing THV Patricia and THV Galatea in a fleet renewal campaign.

Vard said cybersecurity would be engineered into these Lloyd’s Register-classed vessels "as an integrated and layered capability."

This includes secure system-to-system integration, segregation between operational technology and information technology, controlled interfaces and protected ship-to-shore data flows.

"The architecture is based on security by design, demonstrated through verified and tested built-in system capabilities and secure development practices," said Vard.

Vard Electro will supply a comprehensive SeaQ package for each of these vessels covering power management, propulsion control, bridge electronics and communication systems, as a single system integrator for the project.

This brings the main onboard electrical technologies into one co-ordinated workscope, and includes integrated navigation systems with ECDIS, radar, conning and power management workstations, plus autopilot, echosounder and various compasses.

Communications equipment will include terminals for high-speed satellite connectivity, L-band back-up, safety and emergency communications and VHF, HF and MF radios.

Within the energy management segment, Vard Electro will also provide DC switchboards a battery module exceeding 3,600 kWh in capacity, and a multi-connection shore connection enabling zero-emissions operations at the quayside.