TTB 2026: USCG cybersecurity rules raise stakes for vessel operators

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Cybersecurity threats and growing U.S. Coast Guard scrutiny will take center stage at Tugs, Towboats & Barges (TTB) 2026, where industry leaders will examine how unprepared vessel operators are increasingly exposed to operational, regulatory and financial risk.

The panel, Cybersecurity Isn’t Optional: USCG Rules & the Cost of Being Unprepared, will be held during the TTB 2026 Conference, scheduled for March 10–11, 2026, in Mobile, Ala.

As cyber incidents targeting maritime operations continue to rise, the towing industry is facing heightened expectations from regulators to demonstrate stronger cyber risk management. The session will explore how USCG cybersecurity requirements are evolving and what vessel operators must do to remain compliant while protecting critical operational systems.

Confirmed panelists include Amanda Wallace, business system analyst at Paducah, Ky.-based Hines Furlong Line, who will offer an operator’s perspective on managing cybersecurity risks within a towing fleet, Kristy Huang, Global Director, Cybersecurity Solutions at ABS Consulting, and Frank Boyland, national accounts director at Civient, who will address emerging threats, regulatory expectations and practical approaches to strengthening cyber defenses across both IT and operational technology environments. Additional speakers, including a member of the Coast Guard, will be announced soon.

Panelists will discuss real-world implications of cyber vulnerabilities, including potential vessel disruptions, compliance challenges and financial consequences, as well as steps operators can take now to improve preparedness.

TTB 2026 will bring together tug, towboat and barge operators, suppliers and industry stakeholders to address the most pressing operational and regulatory issues facing the towing industry.

Registration is now open. For questions on sponsorships, please contact David Harkey at [email protected].