Submitted by Ryan Owens, Office of Port and Facility Compliance

The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (NMSAC) held a public meeting September 19-20 in Arlington, Virginia. Committee members met to discuss Cyber Security Guidance in the Marine Transportation System (MTS), the regulatory reform effort, the Extremely Hazardous Cargo Strategy, future policy tasking, and received an update of past NMSAC recommendations.

During this meeting, NMSAC was tasked with providing comments to draft Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 05-17: “Guidelines for Addressing Cyber Risks at Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) Regulated Facilities.” The Coast Guard seeks NMSAC’s input on the feasibility of the NVIC’s implementation, how flexible and useful it is in addressing the broad scope of vulnerabilities and risk facing regulated facilities, and its ability to remain valid when technology and industry’s use of technology changes. In addition, the Coast Guard seeks NMSAC’s input on whether this guidance aligns with activities that may already be taking place by industry.

The NMSAC’s Cybersecurity Working Group is requesting the assistance of all interested members of the public to participate in this working group. The working group will meet via teleconferences. Interested parties should contact Mr. Ryan Owens, at ryan.f.owens@uscg.mil.

A copy of the NMSAC task statement along with electronic versions of the meeting agenda and presentation materials can be found in the September 19-20, 2017 entry under the Full Committee Meeting Minutes section of the NMSAC’s Homeport webpage.

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.