A Survey of Cyber Security for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions

With the evolution of information and communication technology, the shipping industry, responsible for the highest volume of international trade in goods, has experienced significant advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and the safety of ship operations. However, the implementation of a network with an open interface has compromised network and system security, leading to heightened vulnerability to external cyber-attacks. This survey analyzes the security research trends at four stages of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and provides an overview of state-of-the-art strategies for enhancing security at the final Level 4, based on key achievements and limitations. In particular, we examine the major research and development efforts for MASS Levels 2 and 3, which include remote control functionalities, emphasizing the importance of security research in the areas of remote control, unmanned ships, and international agreements. The study then focuses on the key achievements and limitations within these three areas. Additionally, we propose seven research areas necessary for the final Level 4 and highlight the importance of developing security architectures that consider maritime stakeholders and foster international consensus. Finally, this study aims to present the current research limitations and future directions to guide researchers interested in contributing to the field of autonomous ship security.