Representing a major breakthrough for the standardisation of maritime data interchange, public and private players have accepted an invitation by maritime NGOs to co-create a global digital ISO standard for the exchange of administrative and operational data.
It’s the culmination of more than three years’ work by NGOs and key maritime players in the public and private sectors and has resulted in a key missing piece of the puzzle - application programme interface standards which are compatible and interoperable - being agreed to in principle by the main global implementers 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. Standardising offers realistic aspirations for ships to optimise 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 (Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents ), Patrick Verhoeven (International Association of Ports and Harbors), Gregor Stevens (International Chamber of Shipping), Paul Owen (International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations), Sabrina Delelis ( International Harbour Masters' Association), Richard Morton ( International Port Community Systems Association) and Ben van Scherpenzeel (International Taskforce Port Call Optimization), 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 to continue the work on the alignment of ISO 28005 to the IMO Compendium, assuming responsibility for defining the information exchange needs and application programme interfaces (APIs) between ship and shore.
Several signatories have already confirmed their participation, among them the likes of Maersk, PortXchange and Wärtsilä.