Source: IAPH
The culmination of well over three years’ work by NGO’s and key maritime players in both private and private sectors received a major boost this week, with a key missing piece of the puzzle – application program interface standards which are compatible and interoperable – being agreed to in principle by the main global implementors of operational and administrative maritime data exchange systems.
This crucial development complements positive advances made in nautical and hydrographical data standards, and will aim to avoid ships having to exchange differently structured data sets with port communities and supply chain stakeholders around the world before, during and after their port call. Standardizing offers realistic aspirations for ships to optimize port calls, reducing emissions and berth waiting time.
The invitation, which was sent by NGO industry leaders Jeppe Skovbakke Juhl (BIMCO), Paul Goris (DryBulkTerminalsGroup), Jonathan Williams (FONASBA), Patrick Verhoeven (IAPH), Gregor Stevens (ICS), Paul Owen (IFSMA), Sabrina Delelis (IHMA), Richard Morton (IPCSA) and Ben van Scherpenzeel (ITPCO) puts forward the proposal to co-create a single- and neutral- supporting technical standard under ISO Technical Committee 8 for administrative and operational data. The aim is for this Committee is to continue the work on the alignment of ISO 28005 to the IMO Compendium, assuming responsibility for defining the information exchange needs and application program interfaces (API’s) between ship and shore.
ITPCO’s and IHMA’s Captain Ben Van Scherpenzeel commented on the invitation : “This approach ensures that the standard can be accepted and promoted by the IMO and the industry for implementation. It also facilitates sustainable and future-proof maintenance as well as other developments needed to foster data sharing in the maritime industry.”
First signatories already confirming their organization’s participation includes: Andrey Vorobiev (Chartworld), Henning Schleyerbach (DCSA), Jaco Voorspuij (GS1),Jan Hartwig, Gerald Hirt (Hamburg Vessel Coordination Center), Nabil Ouzir (IPCSA), Marcel Jumelet (Maersk), Argyris Stasinakis (MarineTraffic), Anders Wendel (Navelink), Robbert Engels (PortXchange), A Martinez (Prodevelop), Magnus Sundström (Sea Traffic Management/ Swedish Maritime Administration), Jose Maldonado (Fundación Valenciaport) and Dmitry Rostopshin (Wärtsilä).