SAFEDIGIMAR

As digitalisation accelerates across the maritime industry, cyber threats have become a critical challenge for ports, shipping companies, and maritime infrastructure. SAFEDIGIMAR is a flagship European initiative designed to protect, strengthen, and future-proof the maritime and port sector against cyberattacks.

Bringing together leading organisations — France Cyber Maritime, the Federazione del Sistema Marittimo Italiano, and the Federation of European Private Port Companies and Terminals (FEPORT) — the SAFEDIGIMAR consortium is united by a shared ambition: to raise cybersecurity awareness, enhance resilience, and support effective compliance with the NIS2 Directive across Europe’s maritime ecosystem.

SAFEDIGIMAR is built around three strategic objectives:

• Raising the level of cybersecurity across the EU maritime sector by strengthening network and information systems and supporting organisations in meeting the requirements of the NIS2 Directive.
• Establishing efficient, secure, and harmonised incident notification processes, including a cross-border reporting mechanism for essential and important entities such as ports and terminal operators.
• Enhancing cooperation with law enforcement and national authorities, ensuring timely reporting of cyber incidents and effective operational coordination at both EU and Member State level.

With nearly 70% of French shipowners alone falling under the scope of NIS2, SAFEDIGIMAR directly addresses an urgent and growing need. The project helps identify vulnerabilities, improve detection capabilities, and build a strong cybersecurity culture across the maritime and port community.

SAFEDIGIMAR delivers concrete, operational solutions. A dedicated diagnostic tool enables maritime and port stakeholders to assess cyber risks and implement cost-effective improvements across operational, technical, and human dimensions.

Through M-CERT, the project offers real-time support to detect suspicious activities such as malicious emails and compromised files. Alerts are shared with the Maritime Security Operations Centre (MSOC) and consolidated within a sectoral EU-level Security Operations Centre (SOC). This ensures rapid response, expert analysis, and immediate assistance for affected organisations — when it matters most.

A cornerstone of SAFEDIGIMAR is its comprehensive Education and Training Programme, developed in close cooperation with ENSM and the French Merchant Navy Assembly. The programme delivers:

• Tailored cybersecurity training for maritime professionals
• Daily monitoring and victim support
• Crisis management exercises and incident simulations
• Identification and mapping of maritime-specific cyber threat ecosystems

In addition, SAFEDIGIMAR will host webinars on the NIS2 Directive, international conferences, panel discussions, workshops at major maritime trade fairs, and ad hoc expert meetings. A standardised European training syllabus will ensure consistent, high-quality learning across the sector.

By pooling expertise, resources, and costs, SAFEDIGIMAR offers high-impact, cost-efficient solutions for its beneficiaries. The project establishes a trusted European cybersecurity network that enables continuous information-sharing on emerging threats, helping the sector to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber incidents in a timely and coordinated manner.