The Maritime Transport sector does not have any safety network or
integrated information technologies (IT) system to back and support wide
and vital maritime operations. This could look strange to people outside
the maritime industry, particularly if they compare to the aviation
systems. One reason for this may be the lack of a standardized model for
information organization, and an easy and effective way to exchange
information with other business partners.
The growing use of the Internet as an information carrier
and TCP/IP as
communication protocol and the wide acceptance for XML for structuring of
data imply that a solution for IT systems in the Maritime sector should be
based upon an XML application. XML is relatively easy to implement and XML,
the Internet and TCP/IP also
provide a solution that is platform independent.
Systems based on XML can be high-tech systems running on advanced computers,
but it may also be a system based on standard computers and web servers, or a
combination of several computer architectures and operating systems as
XML instances are plain ASCII-text and not based on any proprietary protocols.
XML has already been adopted to some degree in the Maritime sector. One
example of this is MTML (Marine Trading Markup Language) which is a language for
trade and addresses details as trade transactions, price, delivery schedule,
goods and services. MTML and MSML
are not competitors, rather complements to each
other, as MSML is more concerned with safety and regulations instead of trade.
During the development of MSML several regulations were taken into consideration
and MSML has therefore support for SIRENAC and EQUASIS information (ship
identification, class-related information, detentions, owner,
management, etc.). Another example of usage of XML in the Maritime sector is
the SafeSeaNet system, which is a European Platform for Maritime Data
Exchange between maritime
authorities of the EU Member
States.
MSML has
the potential to be implemented in a number of different systems. Some
examples are systems for Repair and Maintenance, VTS/VTMIS, Voyage Data
Recording, Tracking and Tracing, Safety
Management, E-Training and Long-Distance
Diagnostics. Such implementations have the opportunity to be part of a wider
decision support system that could be used onboard as well as ashore.
It will give
users access to more accurate information, leading to more exact
arrival times, optimize resource utilization, minimized costs and of
course prevention of accidents.
If a closer relationship with MSML is needed it could be accomplished by
modifying MSML, expanding it or making transformations between different
representations.
MSML is also proposed as an open
standard to the International
Organization of Standardization (ISO).
ISO is of the opinion that MSML
has the possibility to form an
important basis for a new
initiative to develop a new
international standard for
"Electronic Port Clearance" - EPC.
MSML is for the moment in the
FDIS (Final Draft International
Standard) approval stage and is
expected to be approved in a
couple of months. To follow the progress of the
standardization process of MSML, please click
here.
