IPCDMC adopts standard for Port Call Messages

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The S-211 Standard has been adopted by the International PortCDM Council (IPCDMC) and endorsed by IALA

After its adoption, the standard for Port Call Messages has been fully registered in the IHO Registry, which is the foundation of the Common Maritime Data Structure (CMDS) of the IMO e-Navigation initiative. The standard enables both the merchandise fleet, other types of ships and ports to exchange port call data in a standardized manner.

During the last years, different projects have worked to develop and validate concepts, services and solutions to improve safety and efficiency of maritime transport. One result was the development of the "Sea Traffic Management" (STM) concept and its "Port Collaborative Decision Making" (PortCDM) enabler in the MONALISA and STM validation projects.

Within STM, a Port Call Message Format has been developed to enable the coordination of stakeholder activities associated with port calls by providing a standard format to share the necessary information, particular time stamps, associated to movements and operations during port call operations.

In order to ensure sustainability and interoperability with the IMO initiative "e-Navigation", IPCDMC, initiated in the STM Validation project, has supported the idea to migrate the Port Call Message Format into a Common Maritime Data Structure (CMDS) format. It would allow to integrate it in the CMDS GI Registry currently managed by the International Hydrographic Office (IHO). IALA has assigned S-211 within the IALA VTS domain as the identifier for this standard.

The standard can be accessed through the IHO GI Registry or through the IPCDMC homepage.