Towards the end of the first quarter of 2020, the Covid-19 virus caused public life in many countries to be reduced to a minimum. Nevertheless, the Core Teams continue to work intensively on the implementation of the COMEX services, even though the meetings have to be held as web meetings until further notice due to the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the first quarter of 2020, the Reference Network Model 2.3 was adopted and finalised, which defines the delivery of data on the digital waterway network and its infrastructure.
In addition, the partners have focused on the development of a monitoring concept, statistics and subscriptions for all level 1-3 services.
Furthermore, nine out of 13 countries already provide their national AIS data and are already interconnected to VisuRIS COMEX. It is expected that all partners will be connected to VisuRIS COMEX in the course of the coming quarter.
Major steps were also made related to cooperation and legal basis. The Cooperation Agreement defining the terms in which the 13 countries will work together in future is in its final phase. Conclusions shall be drawn end of May. Further, the legal basis for providing services to logistics is close to finalisation and the following signature process. The elaboration of the legal basis for the data exchange between the Authorities has started and will be intensively worked on the upcoming months.
Finally, the joint procurement for the Common Electronic Reporting System (CES) was published and the best five applicants evaluated. Beginning of April phase 2 of the tender procedure was started providing the bidders with all relevant specifications. The first round of bids is expected till end of May.