CPD Career Advancement IMO MSC.428(98) Liverpool, UK

Mastering Maritime Cyber Security (CPD)

A three-day, simulator-enhanced professional development course helping maritime professionals understand and manage cyber risk under IMO's SMS obligations.

3 Days Contact LJMU for pricing Face-to-face · Liverpool CPD Certificate · No expiry
WHAT IS THIS COURSE?

Course Overview

Mastering Maritime Cyber Security (MMCS) is an intensive three-day continuing professional development course run by the LJMU Maritime Centre at Liverpool John Moores University. It sits within LJMU's executive "Mastering Maritime" series and is designed for professionals across all maritime disciplines — not just IT specialists. The course treats cyber security as a multidisciplinary challenge spanning vessel management, operations, physical security, supply chains, legal frameworks, and international relations.

A key differentiator from online-only training is LJMU's use of advanced full-mission bridge simulators to run realistic cyber-attack scenario exercises. This hands-on approach gives participants direct experience of how cyber incidents affect vessel operations, enabling them to apply the course's risk-management frameworks with confidence. The next scheduled run is 20–22 July 2026 in Liverpool; lunches and an event dinner are included.

The regulatory driver for this type of training is IMO Resolution MSC.428(98), which requires all companies operating ISM-code vessels to integrate cyber risk management into their Safety Management Systems (SMS). This obligation has been in force since the first annual verification of each company's Document of Compliance after 1 January 2021. The course also references IMO MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3/Rev.3 (Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management) and acknowledges developing regulatory requirements including the EU NIS2 Directive, which places direct cyber-governance responsibility on company directors.

Prerequisites

  • No prior cyber security experience required
  • No minimum sea service or rank
  • No STCW certificate prerequisite
  • No ENG1 medical required
  • Suitable for non-IT and IT backgrounds alike

What You'll Cover

  • Maritime cyber risk frameworks (IMO MSC.428(98), MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3)
  • Cyber threats to vessel OT and IT systems
  • Supply chain, port, and physical security vulnerabilities
  • Legal, regulatory, and insurance obligations
  • Cyber risk integration into SMS documentation
  • Immersive simulator-based cyber-attack scenarios
WHERE IT TAKES YOU

Career Progression

BEFORE
STCW Security Awareness (A-VI/6-1) or Ship Security Officer (A-VI/5)
Most attendees hold their mandatory STCW security certificates. The ship security officer (SSO) qualification and general security awareness training provide useful context for understanding the operational security environment before specialising in cyber risk.
THIS COURSE
Mastering Maritime Cyber Security (CPD)
Develops the knowledge and practical skills to assess, manage, and document maritime cyber risk in line with IMO MSC.428(98). On completion, participants receive a CPD certificate from LJMU Maritime Centre evidencing their engagement with maritime cyber risk management.
NEXT STEP
Certificate in Maritime Cyber Security or Ship Cyber Security Officer
Professionals wishing to deepen their expertise can progress to the Certificate in Maritime Cyber Security (Lloyd's Maritime Academy / Informa Connect), the Ship Cyber Security Officer certificate (Warsash Maritime / Solent University), or postgraduate study such as an MSc in Maritime Cyber Security.

This qualification supports a wide range of maritime roles where cyber risk awareness and SMS compliance are increasingly expected. Typical attendees include ship officers and engineers, company security officers (CSOs), fleet managers, technical superintendents, port and terminal operators, maritime lawyers and compliance officers, P&I and marine insurance practitioners, maritime IT/OT specialists, maritime consultants and auditors, and government agency personnel. Superyacht operators with vessels of 500 GT or above on international voyages fall within IMO ISM-code scope and will find this course equally relevant. The certificate provides evidence of personal engagement with cyber governance that can be shared with employers, flag state surveyors, class society auditors, and port state control officers.

COURSE AT A GLANCE

Key Facts

Duration
3 Days
Typical Cost
Contact LJMU
Issuing Body
LJMU Maritime Centre
Certificate Validity
No formal expiry
Prerequisites
None
Delivery
Face-to-face
Regulatory Basis
IMO MSC.428(98)
Next Run
20–22 Jul 2026
Renewal: LJMU does not specify a formal renewal period for this CPD certificate. Unlike STCW certificates, a CPD completion certificate of this type does not carry a regulatory expiry date. However, because the maritime cyber threat landscape evolves rapidly, many employers and auditors expect refresher engagement more frequently than every five years. Your professional body (such as the Nautical Institute or IMarEST) may set its own annual CPD-hours requirements, which this course can count towards. Confirm the current position with LJMU and your professional body directly.
WHERE TO STUDY

Schools Offering This Course

Liverpool John Moores University — Maritime Centre
Liverpool, United Kingdom
View school →

Enquiries: maritime@ljmu.ac.uk — contact LJMU directly to confirm current dates, availability, and course fees before booking.

Important: Course dates, availability and prices shown on this page are indicative only and were gathered from providers' public websites. Always confirm current dates, availability and pricing directly with the training provider before making any booking or payment. All bookings are made directly with the provider — YachtSync is not a party to any booking and accepts no responsibility for date changes, cancellations, pricing errors or any other changes made by providers. Course information is for guidance only; verify requirements with the relevant authority (MCA, RYA, STCW) before enrolling.