Rakuten Symphony and American Bureau of Shipping Sign MoU to Advance Maritime Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience

Rakuten Symphony Inc. announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a leading global classification society, to collaborate on maritime cybersecurity and support the secure digital transformation of the maritime industry through Rakuten Maritime, its maritime cybersecurity arm.

The agreement comes at a critical juncture as the global maritime industry, including shipping and vessel construction, faces increasing cyber threats amidst rapid technological shifts. By combining Rakuten Maritime’s cybersecurity capabilities with ABS’s expertise in maritime safety standards and the classification of ships and offshore assets, the two organizations aim to strengthen the maritime industry’s long-term cyber resilience.

Under this MoU, Rakuten Maritime and ABS will explore collaborative initiatives across maritime cybersecurity, digital transformation and capability building, including knowledge sharing and the exchange of best practices. The two organizations also aim to support the adoption of secure digital transformation in maritime operations, enhance talent development through joint training and technical workshops and explore opportunities for broader collaboration across the maritime ecosystem.

“This agreement with ABS marks an important milestone for Rakuten Maritime,” stated Ryan Son, President of Rakuten Symphony’s Internet Services Business Unit and Head of Rakuten Maritime. “By combining Rakuten Maritime’s cybersecurity expertise with ABS’s deep experience in classification and safety standards, we will jointly address increasingly sophisticated threats and tackle the complex challenges facing the maritime cybersecurity landscape.”

Matthew Mueller, Vice President of Business Development at ABS, commented, “ABS is committed to the safe evolution of digital shipping ecosystems. This agreement with Rakuten Maritime is a meaningful step toward building the frameworks and expertise the industry needs to operate securely in a digital world.”

Moving forward, both organizations will continue to explore opportunities to strengthen maritime cybersecurity and support the evolution of secure digital shipping ecosystems.

Notes:
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About ABS
ABS, a global leader in classification services, is focused on delivering a safer, cleaner future for the marine and offshore industries. For over 160 years, ABS has been setting standards for safety and excellence and continues to innovate in the fields of clean technology, digitalization and artificial intelligence, providing industry-leading technical advisory services. With a global network of surveyors, engineers, technology specialists and support staff, ABS works with industry leaders including its members and clients around the world to improve safety in operational performance and efficiency with innovative solutions for the complete life cycle of marine and offshore assets.

About Rakuten Maritime
Launched in December 2024, Rakuten Maritime is an integrated cybersecurity solution designed specifically for smart ships and autonomous vessels, offering comprehensive protection across the entire vessel lifecycle. Beyond its robust technology, which has received innovation endorsements from leading classification organizations like ClassNK and certification from RINA, Rakuten Maritime also offers consulting services that provide tailored support to address the unique challenges of maritime clients. By leveraging its cross-functional expertise in maritime operations, cybersecurity and digital transformation, the service helps clients achieve seamless regulatory compliance and build embedded cyber resilience.

To find out more about Rakuten Maritime, please visit: https://rakuten-maritime.com/en

About Rakuten Symphony
Rakuten Symphony is changing supply chain norms and disrupting outmoded thinking that threatens the industry’s pursuit of rapid innovation and growth. Based on proven modern infrastructure practices, its open interface platforms make it possible to launch and operate advanced services in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional approaches, with no compromise to network quality or security. Rakuten Symphony has operations in Japan, the United States, Singapore, India, South Korea, Europe and the Middle East Africa region.

For more information about Rakuten Symphony’s offerings, please visit: https://symphony.rakuten.com.