Dualog sets new standard for maritime email with personal logins to role-based mailboxes

Dualog has announced a significant update to its email solution: individual corporate email accounts for everyone onboard, now with personal logins to role-based mailboxes and multi-factor authentication (MFA).

“With this release, Dualog Mail provides unlimited personal email accounts for all your seafarers,” says Dualog CCO Silje Moan. “Each crew member now has a secure, traceable, and standardised communication tool, supporting operational clarity and fostering a stronger sense of belonging.”

The upgrade allows each crew member to log in securely using MFA, while still maintaining access to traditional role-based addresses like Master@. However, access is now assigned only to authorised personnel, with full auditability via the Dualog portal.

“This new release of Dualog Mail confirms our commitment to improve customer security and compliance”, adds Moan. “By introducing personal logins to role-based mailboxes, we eliminate critical security and compliance risks, transforming previously untraceable email access into a fully auditable and controlled system.”

Email continues to be the primary entry point for cyber threats. According to Verizon’s latest Data Breach Investigations Report, email is responsible for 98% of social engineering attacks. Safety4Sea estimates the average cost of a maritime cyber incident at over $550,000. Microsoft reports that accounts protected with MFA are 99.9% less likely to be compromised.

This enhancement also positions Dualog customers ahead of tightening global regulations. The EU's NIS2 directive introduces fines of up to €10 million for weak cybersecurity practices, such as the use of shared credentials. Classification societies are similarly enforcing stricter audit and identity requirements, as outlined in the IACS Unified Requirements E26 and E27. Dualog Mail now meets these standards by default.

“Vendors love to talk about AI threat hunting,” says Mikael Johannessen, Product Manager at Dualog, “but most vessels still rely on shared passwords. We’re fixing that basic flaw, by giving every seafarer a secure digital identity.”

One customer put it bluntly:

“Shared accounts are holding the industry back. Moving to per-user logins with MFA is the fastest way to improve security and satisfy increasingly demanding regulators.”

Developed in close collaboration with IT professionals from leading shipping companies, the updated system reflects real-world operational needs. Crew accounts can be automatically managed via integration with crew management systems or manually through CSV uploads and APIs. All actions are fully traceable, and permissions adjust automatically based on crew movements and roles.

Looking ahead, Johannessen also announced that Single Sign-On (SSO) functionality will soon be available, allowing for fleet-wide identity management across all onboard systems.

“With these latest improvements,” says Dualog CCO Silje Moan Moan, “Dualog is re-defining maritime email, advancing security, traceability, and a new level of crew empowerment.”