The International Port Community Systems Association (IPSCA) has said the drive for global standards in electronic messaging at ports has been given a major boost after it fully integrated the standards specialist group PROTECT a year earlier than expected.
In a statement, the IPSCA said PROTECT will bring an unrivalled level of knowledge and experience in standardised and harmonised electronic information exchange. The renewed strength and focus will help accelerate innovations in the maritime industry.
Richard Morton, secretary general of IPCSA, said, “The full integration of PROTECT into IPCSA is a significant step forward in the area of electronic messaging standards.
“Despite difficult circumstances with COVID-19 during 2020, the transition of PROTECT proceeded smoothly.
“It was therefore decided by PROTECT members to fully integrate into IPCSA a year earlier than expected.
“PROTECT members, through IPCSA’s delegation at the IMO, are now supporting the IMO in its Correspondence Groups and Working Groups, when it comes to matters of electronic messaging,” he explained.
“The full integration of PROTECT into IPCSA is a pivotal development in the field of standardised and harmonised electronic information exchange.”
Hans Rook, chairman of IPCSA, said PROTECT’s mission, vision, values and objectives will be reviewed and updated in the first part of 2021.
Rook commented, “We are delighted that PROTECT is now totally integrated into IPCSA. By combining the very considerable expertise of both groups, we will accelerate our work in supporting international standards, including in the delivery of Just-In-Time [ship arrival] APIs and data through international standards bodies.”
Membership of PROTECT is open to Port Community Systems, sea port authorities and Single Window operators that deal with maritime matters.
Jerome Besancenot, chairman of PROTECT, said: “PROTECT was formed to provide standardised EDI messages to facilitate trading between stakeholders and port authorities.
“The rapid acceleration of the digitalisation process in recent years has meant that we are also talking about issues such as European and international Maritime Single Window, blockchain, smart containers and the Internet of Things.
“There was already an overlap between PROTECT and IPCSA in terms of work and membership – in joining IPCSA, we recognised that by combining our strengths we could be highly influential in working with national, regional and international decision makers, including on the IMO’s FAL group.”
