e-Maritime for Automating Legacy Shipping Practices

The European Commission has been actively promoting the competitiveness of the European maritime transport sector and a more efficient use of resources through the better use of Information and Communicating Technologies (ICT), with a core vision to enable seamless communication in the sector. This paper describes how the FP7 eMAR project successfully developed, tested and assessed tools to further streamline maritime operations. These tools included an an eMAR Ecosystem, the Inlecom i-Ship Intelligent Ship Reporting Gateway, and two specific interoperable platforms: the DANAOS Collaboration Platform and the InleMar Ecosystem. These applications will help transmit information to all relevant stakeholders (authorities, agents, ship masters, of/onshore shipping company facilities) in an automated and smart manner. The transmitted information, which includes legally required information such as the IMO FAL Forms, as well as business related information, such as Estimated Time of Arrival or Port of next call or availability, will significantly improve not only the shipping related operations but also the entire upstream and downstream supply chain operations.