Cases
From pilot to world first.
MDM-PROTECT was not developed in a lab. It was built on board a real vessel, in close collaboration with the people who depend on it every day. This is how it happened.
MTS WEST VIRGINIA
The world's first fully cybersecure inland vessel.
Customer: Wijgaart Shipping
Vessel: MTS West Virginia, inland tanker
Location: The Netherlands
Timeline: September 2025 – May 2026
Solution: MDM-PROTECT
Result: Full IT and OT cybersecurity on board and in the office
6 months
from first installation to fully operational system
24/7
continuous monitoring, vessel and office
100%
of IT and OT systems on board protected
The challenge
Wijgaart Shipping has been operating inland vessels for decades. As a tanker company, they know what it means to run a tight, safe operation, both on board and ashore.
Over the past few years, however, something has changed. The systems on their vessels have become more connected, as navigation, engine management and communication shift towards software-driven systems linked to external networks. With that connectivity comes a more pressing question: what happens if someone gets in?
For Wijgaart, cybersecurity was not a theoretical concern. It was a practical one. Their vessels carry cargo for clients who are themselves facing new regulatory obligations under NIS2. The security of the vessel is the security of the chain, and as that chain tightens, the weakest link becomes a liability.
They needed a solution that was built for the realities of inland shipping. Not an enterprise IT product adapted for a vessel. Something that actually understood how a ship works, and what it means to keep one safe.
Built on collaboration
From the start, MDM was clear that developing a cybersecurity solution for inland shipping could not happen from behind a desk. It had to happen on the water, in close collaboration with people who actually operate vessels and understand how their onboard systems are connected.
Wijgaart Shipping became that partner. In September 2025, they made the MTS West Virginia available for the full development process, including installation, testing, refinement and validation. Over the course of six months, the MDM team worked on board to gain a detailed understanding of the vessel’s network, mapping all connected systems, identifying potential entry points, and configuring MDM-PROTECT to match the ship’s specific architecture.
No two vessels are the same. The West Virginia’s network, like that of any inland tanker, had its own structure: legacy systems alongside newer digital equipment, multiple network segments, and devices from different manufacturers. MDM-PROTECT was configured to work across this environment without disrupting a single operation on board.
Shipping Technology, a company with extensive experience in on-board digital systems, supported the technical development throughout the process. Their expertise in inland vessel communication and data exchange was key to ensuring reliable performance under real operating conditions.
The MTS West Virginia became the first inland vessel in the world to have its IT and OT systems fully protected against cyber threats.
What was installed
MDM-PROTECT was installed on the MTS West Virginia and configured to create a protective layer between the vessel's IT environment, including internet access, communication systems and administration, and its OT environment, such as navigation, engine management and operational controls. At the same time, Wijgaart Shipping’s onshore office was connected to the same monitoring system, providing end-to-end visibility and protection across the entire operation. From the moment the system went live, all data traffic passing through the vessel's network has been monitored in real time from the MDM control room.
What this means in practice:
- All network traffic on board monitored is continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- AI-driven anomaly detection learns the vessel's normal behaviour and immediately flags deviations
- Any threat detected is assessed and acted upon by the MDM control room before it can reach critical systems
- Monthly reports are delivered to Wijgaart, covering all activity, incidents and compliance status
- Full NIS2 documentation is maintained automatically, ready to share with any cargo owner, charterer or authority on request
The result
The MTS West Virginia is now fully protected. Its IT and OT systems operate independently of each other, monitored around the clock, with every anomaly detected and documented. Wijgaart Shipping has the compliance documentation they need for NIS2, and the confidence that their vessel and office are secure.
For Wijgaart, the pilot answered the question they had been asking. The system works, it integrates with the vessel without disrupting operations, and it removes a risk that had been quietly growing as their ships became more connected.
They are now in the process of extending MDM-PROTECT to more vessels in their fleet.
In the press
The launch of MDM and the story of the MTS West Virginia was covered at the official launch of MDM on 8 May 2026.
