What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- Degree in computer engineering, telecommunications or systems; with broad experience the Spanish higher vocational ASIR diploma (Networked IT Systems Administration, RD 1629/2009) is also an entry route.
- Professional certifications per the line's stack: CCNA/CCNP, Microsoft/VMware, ITIL for service management (company matrix — as a guide).
Basic STCW
- STCW A-VI/1 Basic Safety Training.
- A-V/2 crowd management and, if the muster list assigns command duties, A-V/2 crisis management and human behaviour (verify per company).
- Valid seafarer medical certificate per flag.
Specific courses
- Maritime cybersecurity: cyber-risk management integrated in the SMS per IMO Resolution MSC.428(98) and the MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3 guidelines — the Chief IT is key to its onboard implementation.
- Information-security good practice (ISO/IEC 27001) and shipboard networks (IEC 61162-460 on the navigation side — as a guide).
- PCI DSS applied to the ship's payment systems and POS.
- VSAT and satcom: Intellian/Cobham platforms and GEO/LEO constellations (Starlink Maritime and equivalents).
- Hotel and passenger management systems (Fidelio Cruise SPMS, MXP or others per line).
Indicative experience
As a guide: 5-8 years in systems and network administration, with 2+ shipboard contracts as IT Officer before the lead role; the job runs a network with thousands of devices, dozens of servers/VMs and hundreds of Wi-Fi access points. Each line sets its own minimums.
Observations
Typical route: IT Assistant → IT Officer → Chief IT Officer → fleet/corporate IT ashore. Segregating the hotel/passenger network from navigation/OT is required by the cyber-risk guidelines (as a guide) and falls under this role's operational responsibility. In an emergency the role supports POB lists, data backup and communications per the muster list. Auditors arrive on three fronts: class/SMS (cyber risk), PCI DSS (payments) and the line itself (availability and passenger-connectivity SLAs).
What this role does
On a modern passenger ship, systems failure does not only affect comfort: it can compromise payments, passenger control, communications and critical operations. The role lives on redundancy: a turnaround check-in with the system down is a major operational incident with thousands of passengers in the terminal.
Typical watches
- 24/7 availability for critical systems
Key responsibilities
- Manage the ship's technology stack: network, servers, Wi-Fi, TV, POS and cybersecurity.
- Ensure satellite connectivity, business continuity and support to critical departments.
- Implement onboard the SMS cyber-risk management and keep the hotel network segregated from navigation/OT systems.
- Manage backups, recovery (RPO/RTO) and the lifecycle of systems and licences.
Operational scope
- Data centres, network backbone, business systems and bridge/hotel support
Profile reviewed by HydroAbyss (2026). Cited rules and timeframes are indicative: the final requirement is set by the flag State, the Administration and each company.