Marlink has demonstrated its commitment to cybersecurity by obtaining Bureau Veritas (BV) type approval for the XChange NextGen platform. This certification assures ship owners that their digital infrastructure is designed to provide long-term cybersecurity resilience.
Importance of UR E27 Certification
For ship owners, onboard technologies are a long-term investment that can remain in service for years. As software advances and new services are introduced, cybersecurity must remain a priority throughout the lifecycle of the platform. The XChange NextGen type approval confirms compliance with requirements related to cybersecurity capabilities and processes supporting secure development, maintenance, and updates.
This certification complies with the requirements of IACS UR E27 Rev.1 and Bureau Veritas NR659 within the approved scope. While IACS UR E26 has addressed cybersecurity resilience at the ship level, UR E27 focuses on individual onboard systems and equipment, providing ship owners, shipyards, and system integrators with the necessary evidence to support relevant class requirements.
Key Role of XChange NextGen
Carlos Carbajal, Chief Portfolio and Innovation Officer at Marlink, stated: "Ship owners need to know that the digital infrastructure they invest in today can support them tomorrow as well." Achieving UR E27 certification from Bureau Veritas for XChange NextGen provides independent assurance that cybersecurity resilience is built into this platform, including how it is maintained and updated securely as digital operations evolve.
XChange NextGen is Marlink's next-generation onboard platform that combines edge computing with connectivity, network orchestration, cybersecurity, and cloud services to support secure digital operations. Its edge capability allows data to be processed onboard, providing ship owners with a secure foundation for analytics and AI applications that rely on a reliable data flow between the ship and shore.
The E27 certification of XChange NextGen complements Marlink's broader approach to cybersecurity resilience for vessels. The OT security offering helps ship owners identify and manage cybersecurity risks in operational systems and supports their broader efforts to meet vessel-level requirements, including IACS UR E26.
Read more: Iran Expands Use of Fake Ship Registrations to Evade Sanctions
