IALA, The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities, has backed the creation of a new data standard to support port-to-port and port-to-ship communication.
A new port call message format under the concept of Port Collaborative Decision Making, has been developed in recent months. Port CDM as a concept is currently under validation in the EU supported STM Validation Project. Its aim is to create more streamlined and efficient port operations by linking together ports and other organisations involved in a ship’s port call.
Port CDM is a concept borrowed from the aviation industry where a similar messaging format helps airports co-ordinate landing and take off of flights to improve efficiency. With the goal of creating an international messaging structure for the maritime industry, notably port operator and other port focused stakeholders, the Port CDM Council was recently launched.
In a press release, STM Validation Project states that the International Port CDM Council (IPCDMC) has supported the idea to migrate the port call message format used in Port CDM into a common maritime data structure (CMDS) format and as such integrate it in a registry currently managed by the International Hydrographic Office (IHO). IALA will be used to finalise the standard of the CMDS.
IALA and IHO are integral bodies in developing the standards and structures that support the IMO’s e-navigation strategy.
The research institute RISE Viktoria, Sweden, has created a first draft of the proposed standard which has now been handed to IALA. One of the particular standards being pushed for standardisation is a time stamp, for example on Estimated Time of Arrival and Estimated Time of Departure.
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