Liner Giants Form Digital Container Shipping Association
*As major European yards embarking on data integration
WMN.. Four container shipping giants, Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express, have established the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) on April 10, 2019 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The parties said that the aim of the association is to create common information technology standards to make the industry more efficient for both customers and shipping lines.
The plan to create a neutral, non-profit association for ocean carriers was first announced in November 2018. The association, focusing on driving standardization, digitalization and interoperability in container shipping, is now starting operations with a leadership team made up of industry veterans, including Thomas Bagge from A.P. Moller – Maersk, who was appointed CEO and Statutory Director of the DCSA.
“For the first time in twenty years, the container shipping industry has come together with a common goal to move the industry into the digital era. With the regulatory approval in place, we look forward for the association to take up work and to begin to collaborate with multiple stakeholders from the entire value chain,” André Simha, Chief Information Officer of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of DCSA, said.
To create value quickly and to overcome some of the biggest pain-points in the industry, one of the first projects of the association is focusing on standards to overcome the lack of a common foundation for technical interfaces and data.
Additionally, the association is creating an industry blueprint for processes, which will be another significant part of the future of shipping. The work undertaken will be for the benefit of the entire industry, as all standards will be openly published and available free of charge to interested external parties, the companies informed.
DCSA is in discussions with multiple other container shipping lines around the globe who are interested in joining. Preparations for two more companies to join are already in process, reports World Maritime News.
Meanwhile, European shipbuilders are launching a new initiative to develop and demonstrate a connected vessel platform under a project named Code Kilo.
The project is undertaken by EUROYARDS members Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Damen Shipyards Group, Fincantieri, Lürssen, Meyer Werft, Naval Group and Navantia.
An overarching aim is to harmonize data management solutions and standards in order to meet the digitization challenges.
As explained, this project will seek full cooperation and engagement of all maritime stakeholders, including shipowners, shipbuilders, suppliers and classification societies, and is supported by SEA Europe, the shipyards’ and maritime equipment association.
Ship systems currently provide large amounts of data related to equipment status, ship operations and performance. Code Kilo is envisioned as increasing the opportunities to reuse, combine and gain values and insights from data. This will allow the operator, the yard and equipment suppliers to optimize their respective activities.
European shipbuilders added they would look at ways of establishing a base for future business opportunities with IoT, Big Data and AI.
The announcement of the Code Kilo project coincided with the launch of the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), which will see shipping giants, Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express create common information technology standards to make the industry more efficient for both customers and shipping lines, reports World Maritime News.
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