1. Introduction
In the project starting phase in 2016, the so-called RIS COMEX Master Plan was elaborated, discussed and finalised by the Project Management providing the list and interpretation of Corridor Services to be investigated and defined within Activity 2 followed by their implementation in Activity 3 (if feasible).
Based on the RIS COMEX Master Plan, the identified Corridor Services were investigated, discussed and defined within Activity 2 of the project. For that purpose the following Core Teams were established for an efficient elaboration of the Service Definitions:
- Service Level 1 Core Team for the investigation, discussion and definition of Corridor Services providing Fairway Information relevant for Route Planning
- Service Level 2 Core Team for the investigation, discussion and definition of Corridor Services providing Traffic Information relevant for Voyage Planning and Traffic management
- Service Level 3 Core Team for the investigation, discussion and definition of Corridor Services providing relevant information for logistics
In a series of Core Team workshops, as well as between these workshops, the Core Team Members under the guidance and coordination of the related Sub-Activity Leaders discussed and further elaborated the Service Definitions.
2. Corridor Services
In the following the defined Corridor Services are listed per Service Level:
Level 1 Corridor Services providing Fairway Information relevant for Route Planning:
|
Service |
Service interpretation |
| FIS.1 Geography of the navigation area and their updates | Provide info on geography of the navigation area and their updates (e.g. IENCs): Content and update (intervals) based on defined quality criteria and (latest) applicable standards; optimised publication process (online); Harbour facility infos optional based on cooperation of the ports; |
| FIS.3 Water depths contours in the navigation channel | Depth data (e.g. in IENC bathymetric layer) with defined content and update intervals and optimised publication process (online) based on (latest) applicable standards and defined quality criteria; |
| FIS.4 Long time obstructions in the fairway | Information on permanent obstructions to be provided together with FIS.1 info; |
| FIS.6 Temporary obstructions in the fairway | Provide information about temporary obstructions and restrictions / limitations (e.g. via NtS) including planned maintenance;
Info on temporary limitations (dredging, bridge/lock repair works, etc.); |
| FIS.14 Physical limitations on waterways, bridges and locks | Detailed information on locks (e.g. position and type of the doors) and bridges (e.g. moveable parts, shape, curved/flat) (info beyond FIS.1); |
| FIS 11 Short term changes of lock and bridge operating times | Provision of information on short term changes of lock and bridge operating times; |
| FIS.13a Regular lock and bridge operating times | Provision of information on regular lock and bridge operating times;
Technical realisation to be discussed; Also contact information shall be covered by this service |
| FIS.13b Opening hours of Harbours and/or Ports | Provide information on the relevant (for Inland Navigation) opening hours of Harbours, Ports and Terminals; |
| FIS.13c Contact information and opening times of authorities | Provide contact information and opening times of relevant authorities and other parties relevant for any navigational issues; |
| FIS.5a Actual meteorological information | Provide information on national/regional meteorological info service providers; Service will include a link to external data source |
| FIS.5b Predicted meteorological information | Provide information on national/regional meteorological info service providers; Service will include a link to external data source |
| FIS.7a Actual water levels at gauges | Provide information on actual water levels at gauges (quality criteria to be defined); |
| FIS.7b Future water levels at gauges | Provide information on predicted water levels at gauges (quality criteria to be defined); |
| FIS.7c Actual vertical bridge clearance | Dynamic actual Vertical Bridge Clearance based on defined quality criteria; |
| FIS.7d Future vertical bridge clearance | Provide information on predicted vertical bridge clearance based on predicted water levels; |
| FIS.7e Least actual Depth | Actual minimum available water depth in the fairway (additionally also within the deep channel) for a certain stretch (from A to B). To be provided by a service based on measured depth data together with accurate actual water level information (FIS.7a) for that stretch (or for critical stretches); For defined sections additional publication (e.g. by Shallow Section Track Plots); Alternatively for canals: Provide information on guaranteed minimum depth; |
| FIS.7f Least predicted Depth | Calculated based on actual bathymetric depth data together with accurate predicted water level information (FIS.7b) for that stretch (fairway and ideally also for the deep channel) for the defined future timeframe; |
| FIS.7g Present water level info for a certain stretch (Water Level Model) | Provide detailed water level information for a certain stretch (e.g. water level model correction data to be used on board, especially in critical sections) based on defined quality criteria; |
| FIS.8 State of the rivers, canals, locks and bridges in the RIS area | Provide the status (availability) of the infrastructure at a requested point in time; The status of infrastructure is calculated based on static and dynamic information provided by other services and local data sources. |
| FIS.9a Actual restrictions caused by flood and ice | Provide information on restrictions (navigation not possible) on specific stretches caused by ice and/or high water; |
| FIS.9b Predicted restrictions caused by flood and ice | Provide information on expected ice conditions and planned ice breaking including expected restrictions for the specific stretches; High Water Predictions covered by FIS.7b; |
| FIS.15 Navigational rules and regulations | Provide information on navigational rules and regulations (e.g. list and download) and/or links to those; Service will include a link to external data source |
| FIS.16 Rates of waterway infrastructure charges | Provide information on fairway charges (and potentially also harbour dues) or links to related websites/documents; |
| FIS.17 Regulations and recommendations for pleasure navigation | Provide information on regulations and recommendations (if available) for pleasure navigation or links to related websites/documents; Service will include a link to external data source |
Level 2 Corridor Services providing Traffic Information relevant for Voyage Planning and Traffic management:
| Service |
Service interpretation |
| TIS.3 Actual overview of the position of vessels on an certain stretch and/or corridor | Anonymised vessel position information; Provide information on traffic density on a certain stretch based on the anonymous vessel positions; |
| TIS.4 Actual overview regarding the operational status or operation of objects | Locks: Provide information on door status, chamber availability and level, signal lights status (red, green);
Bridge status: Opened or closed (or opening or closing), signal lights status; |
| TIS.5a Actual passage of an object by individual vessels | Timestamp of passing an object (departure) by an individual vessel (e.g. for updating the voyage plan, ETA, etc.); |
| TIS.5b passage durations for infrastructure passing (e.g. locks) | Provide information on how long does it take to pass specific infrastructure (e.g. locks) per CEMT class; |
| TIS.5c lock chamber planning | Additional (TIS.5) Service 1: Provide information on RTA (requested time of arrival: Be careful with terminology!) to the skipper (from the lock master); Additional (TIS.5) Service 2: Provide information on Position of vessels in lock chamber: *) Assigned position of own vessel as info from lock master to skipper, *) Assigned positions of all vessels in the lock chamber (for skipper and/or lock master), Additional (TIS.5) Service 3: Sequence of entering the lock chamber as info from lock master to the skippers (incl. assigned position in lock chamber); |
| TIS.5d Actual passage of specific stretch (e.g. between two locks) by individual vessels | Timestamp of passing a specific waypoint (e.g. river-km) by an individual vessel (e.g. for updating the voyage plan, ETA, etc.); |
| TIS.5e passage durations for specific stretches (e.g. between two locks) | How long does it take to pass a specific stretch (e.g. between locks) per CEMT class; |
| TIS.6a Actual occupation of public berths | Provision of occupation of specific berths in % based on actual vessel position information; |
| TIS.6b Actual occupation of private berths | As occupation is calculated based on actual vessel position data (AIS), there is no information required from the private berth operators; Depends on the approval of the private berth operators to publish the occupation information; |
| TPM.10 communicate traffic planning to users and authorities | Sending of RTA info from authority to skipper; |
| CAS.1 Information on incidents focused on traffic situation | Provide information about the incident to fairway users (immediately after the incident): Type, severeness, location, expected duration; |
| TIS.1a Statistical overview traffic flows per vessel classes (CEMT)/ Means of Transport | Provide information on average and actual (recent) sailing time over a certain stretch for different vessel characteristics (vessel/convoy type); |
| TIS.1b Statistical overview density per vessel classes (CEMT)/ Means of Transport | Provide information on average traffic density over a certain stretch for different vessel characteristics; |
| TIS.2 Statistical overview regarding passage time of objects for certain vessel classes (CEMT) | Provide information on average and actual (recent) passage duration of a certain object (e.g. lock: passage duration = waiting time + locking duration incl. entering and leaving the lock) for different vessel characteristics (vessel/convoy type); |
| Service |
Service interpretation |
| TIS.7 Predicted traffic flows including the density for certain vessel classes (CEMT) / Means of Transport | Provide information on predicted traffic density in the timeframe of approx. 6 hours (e.g. based on actual traffic density and traffic flows, voyage plans, historical data on how the traffic might develop, other data sources[?]) |
| TIS.8a Predicted passage time of objects for certain vessel classes (CEMT) | Predicted timestamp of expected passing of an object (e.g. departure from a lock) by an individual vessel (e.g. for updating the voyage plan, ETA, etc.) based on TIS.2 and predicted traffic flows (TIS.7) |
| TIS.8b predicted passage durations for infrastructure passing (e.g. locks) | Provide information on how long does it take to pass specific infrastructure (e.g. locks) per CEMT class; |
| TIS.8c predicted passage time of specific stretch (e.g. between two locks) by individual vessels | Predicted timestamp of expected passing of a specific waypoint of a stretch (e.g. river-km) by an individual vessel (e.g. for updating the voyage plan, ETA, etc.) based on TIS.1 and predicted traffic flows (TIS.7); |
| TIS.8d predicted passage durations for specific stretches (e.g. between two locks) | Provide information on how long does it take to pass a specific stretch (e.g. between locks) per CEMT class based on TIS.1 and predicted traffic flows (TIS.7); |
| TIS.9a Predicted occupation of public berths | Potential service: Provide information on predicted berth occupation (e.g. based on berth reservation services and/or statistics data [e.g. for specific periods like christmas, weekends, etc.] and/or voyage plans and/or potenatially other sources [?]); |
| TIS.9b Predicted occupation of private berths | see above |
Level 3 Corridor Services providing relevant information for logistics:
|
Service |
Service interpretation |
| TTI.1 Presentation of own vessel’s position | Provide and present vessel position information of all vessels a user is authorised to get; |
| TPM.1 Provision and presentation of ETAs of vessels | Provide ETAs of specific vessels at a specific object/destination to authorised users based on access rights;
Provide RTDs at a specific origin in order to reach a specific object/destination by a defined RTA, to authorised users based on access rights; Provide estimated travel durations from a specific origin to a specific destination along a specific route; |
| TPM.2 Provision and presentation of voyage plans of vessels | Service enabling reporting parties (e.g. skippers, vessel operators) of voyage plans (e.g. ERIVOY, ERINOT) to forward the voyage plan directly to any related logistics user in order to increase efficiency e.g. during transhipment process due to optimised planning; Service enabling authorised logistics users to get the related voyage plans; |
| VP.10 Provision of cargo information to logistics partners | Service enabling reporting parties (e.g. of cargo reports like ERINOT) to forward consignment information (cargo info incl. Departure, destination, eta, etc.) directly to any related logistics user; Service enabling authorised logistics users to get the related consignment information; |
| ILE.10 Provision of information for increased efficiency during vessel inspections | Provide information to competent authorities (voyage plans, cargo info, persons on board, ETAs, incl. updates, etc.) enabling them to increase efficiency of vessel inspections (with the permission of the skippers / vessel operators/owners in order to potentially reduce waiting times for inspections and inspection durations); |
| ILE.11a Reporting Requirements | Provide services to logistics users to enable easier compliance with rules and regulations (reporting burdens like cargo reports, statistics reports, etc.); |
| ILE.11b: Electronic Report gateway service | Enable reporting parties to create all required electronic voyage and cargo information to fulfil the given reporting requirements, in the most convenient and user friendly way avoiding the necessity to enter same information more than once. |
| PTM.5 Berth reservation | Provide the posibility for skippers to make a reservation (announcement) for a specific berth for a specific timeframe. |
| TIS.10 Predicted deviation of a voyage | ETA deviation notification service compared to recent voyage plan (respectively compared to last ETA request) for specific waypoints on the route based on actual position and actual traffic situation (density, passage durations, etc.); |
3. Solution
Besides the detailed service definitions, within Activity 2 also the architecture, respectively the system concept was elaborated. For that purpose also a Core Team was established to discuss and elaborate possible architecture types/options based on which the members of the project Steering Committee made an indicative choice on the preferred architecture in the end of 2017.
In spring 2018 the related Core Team agreed on a central system architecture reusing the Flemish VisuRIS system owned and operated by De Vlamse Waterweg being one of the beneficiaries within RIS COMEX. On technical and functional level VisuRIS was identified as suitable system to realise the majority of the defined Corridor Services. This solution was approved by the members of the project Steering Committee mid of 2018.
Since autumn 2018 the project consortium focuses on Activity 3 to specify and realise the defined Corridor Services in the defined architecture with a clone of VisuRIS that will be adapted accordingly as central element gathering relevant information from national data sources in order to provide the related Corridor Services as single point of access for the users. In the course of 2019 all interfaces shall be available, the national infrastructure shall be interconnected and the related data shall be continuously provided. In 2020 the related services shall be finalised, tested, evaluated and transferred into sustainable operation.
As there are some services which cannot be covered by the VisuRIS COMEX system, in parallel these services are specified in detail. If no suitable existing system is identified that can offer these services, a joint public tender procedure will be prepared and executed in order to realise these services as well.