Cyber skills for remote operator jobs in transportation sectors

Establishing pathways for maritime skills development in the South West
Cargo ship with graphics symbolising smart shipping
Transportation assets – maritime, rail, and aviation – are central to the UK's economy and national security. In the South West, maritime activities are particularly significant, although all three sectors play a key role. The increasing adoption of digital systems and remote operations centres (ROCs) is transforming how these assets are managed.
While remote operation offers clear operational benefits, it also introduces new vulnerabilities. Cyber threats to nationally important infrastructure present risks that must be anticipated and addressed through targeted skills development.
The University of Plymouth, in partnership with SeaBot Maritime, is developing a structured approach to training for ROCs. This collaboration brings together:
  • The University of Plymouth's internationally recognised expertise in cyber security
  • SeaBot Maritime's specialist knowledge in digital learning design and training provision.
The project will establish pathways for reskilling and upskilling the transportation workforce, ensuring current and future employees are equipped to work effectively and securely within digitally enabled environments.
CROWN Lab

Objectives and outputs

The project will:
  • Develop training models for both individuals and ROC teams, focusing on cyber threat awareness, mitigation, and communication between centres.
  • Apply contemporary teaching methods, including artificial intelligence, simulation, gamification, and immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality.
  • Undertake stakeholder engagement with employers, SMEs, communities, local authorities, and ROC operators to identify skills needs, barriers to entry, and effective learning approaches.
  • Produce a skills roadmap tailored to the South West demographic, supporting workforce development at both individual and organisational levels.
  • Disseminate findings through workshops, digital content, policy papers, and academic publications, including contributions to international forums such as the International Maritime Organization.

Project impact

The South West provides a strong context for this work, offering opportunities to:
  • Broaden participation in the transportation sector by reducing barriers for women, people with disabilities, individuals seeking a second career, and those in remote or disadvantaged areas.
  • Retain experienced maritime professionals by enabling transition into new digital roles.
  • Support regional economic development by enhancing the local skills base and creating new training and employment opportunities.
  • By embedding cyber-physical competencies in ROC operations, the project will position the South West as a leader in this emerging field.
The outcomes of this project will not only benefit the region but also contribute to the development of global training practices. SeaBot Maritime will work with relevant bodies to promote the creation of a new international standard for ROC cyber skills training, ensuring that lessons from the South West can inform policy and practice at a wider scale.
 
 

Related research

MSc Advanced Navigation for Professionals
Maritime Cyber Threats research group
Explore how our research, expertise and facilities protect those working at sea and safeguarding coastal communities.
Cyber-SHIP Lab
Cyber-SHIP Lab
A nationally unique £3.2m hardware-based maritime cyber security research and development platform to analyse and address cyber security at the hardware, software, and human levels, aiming to identify, understand and mitigate threats.
CROWN logo
Cyber-Resilience of Offshore Wind Networks (CROWN)
The world’s first dedicated facility for offshore wind cyber security research, testing, and development supports the investigation of offshore wind technology and control networks while focusing on cyber vulnerabilities.
Coastal research at Porthleven, Cornwall
Safe Seas
Explore how our research, expertise and facilities protect those working at sea and safeguarding coastal communities.

Maritime cyber threat mitigation training

The Cyber-SHIP Lab 's research-informed maritime cyber threat mitigation training offers customisable courses for the sector's unique challenges. Developed by world-leading researchers and delivered by operational experts, the training aligns with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
Using advanced simulations, 3D modelling, VR, and full mission bridge simulators, participants engage with tailored, realistic scenarios to build the skills needed to address and mitigate evolving cyber threats.
Cyber-SHIP Lab researchers at work

Funded by

Project partners