Since Peplink products getting more and more popular in merchant marine market, I am wondering if Peplink have plan to apply Marine Type Approvals.
Ship’s classifications has published guidelines and pushing Type Approval for IT equipment on board, some maker already done that. Once those regulations fully enforced, we may have to use “type approved” products only.
Hi Jiang_Lin,
This is a great topic to raise and generate some discussions about.
While the UR E26 & 27 talks about IT systems they only revolve around OT systems (Operational Systems) which are required in most, if not all, cases to be type of class approved (Depending on Class, ClassNK, DNV, BV etc…).
There’s also the whole ISM Cyber Security regulation to consider - and we could perhaps generate some information around this and include best practice guides for implementation of Peplink to abide by these standards.
These regulations also came into effect from the 1st of January 2024 - so already in place.
If we wish to be more embedded in these solutions from an OT or Cybcer Security POV we should consider this.
Here’s some information to consider for the Peplink Team:
Hull Classification Surveys
IACS UR E26/27 | ClassNK - English
IACS unified requirements for cyber security mandatory from 1 January 2024
What are your thoughts Jiang_Lin?
Yes, absolutely. Since I am a Peplink share holder now 
First thing I think they should have one of the major class’ approval, like what Moxa, Fortinet did.
E26/27, one of them applied to new ships, which already in force from Jul, another for service ships, where we still have some time. But what information I get from those kind of forum/meetings is every device with data connections should be type approved (even your coffee machine if it has a Bluetooth).
Captain Nik, seems we are in same business? I am here mainly working on merchant ships in Singapore, you mainly do yachts?
Hi Jiang_Lin,
I agree with you - and this is majorly of interest if we think of commercial vessels where I think Peplink could be stronger.
My focus is primarily Yachts, but we do Commercial and Government too (Globally).
As for E26/E27, we should indeed consider what other providers have done and as per my previous comment, should we want to be more involved like others (i.e. Moxa & Fortinet) we should consider getting the right certifications.
For example, Moxa has an excellent Marine Certified product list we use as a reference,
moxa-marine-certification-2019.pdf
Marine Focus | Moxa
@Giedrius - What are your thoughts on Certification here? Or is this for someone else to get onboard with?
+1 on this!
Looking forward to get some more information on this
Hi Nik, Jiang Lin,
it looks more like E26 is related to ship’s overall network architecture while E27 is for IT system (e.g. Peplink equipment). In other words to check if the ship’s overall network architecture is E26-compliant, its IT/OT network components should be E27 compliant, is that right?
Can you also explain in more details what is “major class approval”? ("First thing I think they should have one of the major class’ approval, like what Moxa, Fortinet did.)
Lastly, which are the most important Peplink products which need this sort of certification?
hmm, this is another marine practice, most ships (if not all) should register under a class, they will certify the ship for trading, if your product approved by one of the class, it will be accepted by others as well.
Major class: IACS Members - Shaping Maritime Safety & Sustainability - IACS, but normally we consider ABCD LRK (ABS, BV, CCS, DNV, LR, RINA, CLASS NK).
Ship will normally use switch, router, AP. You may apply approval per product lines (Like B One, Max). — Its more of following a procedure and spend some money, then they will give you a certificate. Ship’s class used to ensure ships structure strong enough in the old days, but now they are expert on everything.
Follow up on Jiang_Lin’s reply here.
You are correct.
As for products seeking approval I believe it is used on a product class as mentioned,
Most important products,
There might be more we can do here - but let us know what else you need here.
Thanks