Kevin Daffey
The Marine Electrical and Control Systems Safety Conference (MECSS 2017) opens tomorrow (Wednesday 22 November) at Glasgow’s Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC). Delegates have travelled to be at the two-day event from Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, and from all around the UK; there will also be a live presentation from authors at the University of Tasmania, Australia.
MECSS 2017 is organised by FIGS Events Limited on behalf of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST). QinetiQ is the Principal Sponsor, and MECSS numbers The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), US Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG); SAFETY4SEA; GREEN4SEA; Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Trinity House and Glasgow City Council amongst its supporting organisations.
Some MECSS delegates are visiting the University of Strathclyde’s Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) today(Tuesday 21 November) as a prelude to the two-day conference. The PNDC is dedicated to accelerating the adoption of innovative research and technologies from early stage research into ‘business as usual’ adoption by the wider electricity industry including the maritime sector, where its work will ensure the ever-greater safety of those at sea.
“The industrial visit to the PNDC and use of their Technology & Innovation Centre are just two of the ways in which Strathclyde University is supporting us,” explains Conference Chairman, Kevin Daffey, Director Engineering & Technology, Marine at Rolls-Royce. “We are delighted that Professor Sir Jim McDonald, the University’s Principal and Vice Chancellor will be welcoming delegates on Day One; his opening words will be followed by the keynote address from Peter Deverill, Principal Engineer Marine Systems, Ships Operating Centre, from the UK’s Ministry of Defence.”
Prominent Hazards and Cyber Security come under the conference spotlight with dedicated sessions on Day One (Day Two sees the focus shift to Whole System; and Operational matters), The first day ends with a Cyber Security Panel Debate that will see six panellists under the chairmanship of Hugh Boyes, Managing Director, Bodvoc Ltd discuss ‘Maturity, commonalities and differences in approaches to cyber security across transport’. The debate has been organised by The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in collaboration with IMarEST.
Three of the six expert panellists help paint the picture:
- Kewal Rai, Policy Adviser, Cyber Security – Aviation and Maritime, TS-COR (Transport Security: Coordination & Operational Response), Department for Transport: “Cyber security is one of the foremost challenges facing the maritime sector today and the UK Government remains committed to supporting the sector to understand the risks from a cyber incident.
“Events such as these provide an excellent platform to allow UK industry to speak directly to Government and raise concerns and issues.”
- Tim Rawlins, Senior Adviser, NCC Group: “Cyber security maturity varies widely, not only between organisations in different transport modes, but also within each transport vertical. Valuable lessons can be learned across the entire transport domain, as those who have already grappled with serious cyber-security challenges, such as segregation, over the air software updates and remote management, can assist others by providing the benefits of their experience.
“This conference will provide an ideal opportunity to share ideas and knowledge, and to learn from the leaders in the growing field of maritime cyber security.”
- Mark Lavis-Jones, Director of Advanced Cyber Solutions from Raytheon UK: “With 90% of world trade transported by sea, we all need to care about the information assurance of the maritime industry. As automation and digitisation become ubiquitous, Cyber defence and resilience is paramount and Raytheon UK as a key representative of UK Cyber Security industry are pleased to be involved in the debate and dialogue to improve that resilience.”
Special guest access is available to the panel debate, which is followed by the Conference Reception hosted by the City of Glasgow at Glasgow City Chambers to which Members of the IMarEST Scottish Branch and the IET’s Scotland South West Network are welcome. They should apply via email to mecss@figsevents.co.uk as there is no admittance on the evening without pre-registration notification by email.
“We are extremely grateful to The Lord Provost and Glasgow City Council for hosting our Conference Reception,” says Kevin Daffey. “We would also like to thank QinetiQ for their sponsorship of what is both a key event in the marine industry’s calendar, and in IMarEST’s important programme of Learned Society activity, which naturally includes CPD accreditation.
Further information on all aspects of MECSS 2017 is available at www.mecss.org.uk.
MECSS 2017 Technical Advisory Committee:
The Technical Advisory Committee is drawn from experts in industry, academia and the military with the aim to develop and steer the technical programme for the event.
- (Chairman) Kevin Daffey – Rolls-Royce
- Prof Campbell Booth – University of Strathclyde
- Paul Eaton – GE Power Conversion
- Andrew Edmondson – BAE Systems Submarines
- Duncan Gould – Disney Cruise Line
- Pim Janse – Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding
- Jamie McCarthy – Rolls-Royce Marine Electrical Systems
- Dr Bob Meggs – BMT Defence Services
- Kees Posthumus – Defence Materiel Organisation, the Netherlands
- Jeremy Richardson – Shell Shipping and Maritime Technology
- Helen Rickerby – BP Shipping
- Derek Robinson – Babcock International Group
- Peter Rogers – Wärtsilä SAM Electronics GmbH
- C/O (SE) Mark Royston-Tonks RFA – Ministry of Defence, UK
- Mel Scott – QinetiQ
- Bernard Twomey – Rolls-Royce
- Richard Vie FREng
- Shaun White – Atlantic Pacific Marine
