Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MISSION (MARITIME JUST-IN-TIME OPTIMIZATION INTEROPERABLE PORT CALL AND VOYAGE OPTIMIZATION TOOL)
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30
With over 80% of the world’s trade, maritime transport is fundamental for the global economy. Although it is one of the most environmentally friendly transportation modes, it significantly contributes to harmful emissions. The establishment of green shipping corridors with entirely decarbonized maritime routes between two or more ports is encouraged by the Clydebank Declaration of COP26. Furthermore, one of the European Commission’s objectives is to minimize risks of serious maritime accidents in Europe by enforcing safety rules and regulations. This is in line with the IMO’s e-navigation strategy to improve marine safety and increase shipping efficiency. Currently, updated information about current ships, terminals, and port services states is not communicated to all interested parties which makes traffic coordination complicated, especially in the port call phase. This may result in port congestion with ships arriving at a port of arrival to find services not ready for them, forcing them to wait in the port area. Communication between stakeholders is generally low and disorganized, ranging from communication by phone to mobile messaging or not finding relevant information at all.
MISSION develops an interoperable digital, real-time decision support tool enabling communication and coordinated port call operations, for streamlining logistics, enhancing safety, and reducing noxious emissions and greenhouse gases. This enables ships to get just-in-time (JIT) at the port area and allows them to proceed directly to their berth without waiting. Stakeholders benefit from increased transparency and information sharing that enable them to optimize their resources, including port hinterland modalities in compliance with the Maritime Labor Convention. Communicating terminal or port readiness earlier to vessels allows ships to adjust speed and save fuel of up to 21% of the overall voyage. Especially high fuel savings can be achieved through JIT strategy and slow steaming in bulk and container shipping. While RoRo-vessels normally operate at pre-defined routes and on fixed schedules, they benefit from less traffic-condensed port entries and seaways as well as transparent real-time communication of readiness levels regarding ports and terminals. The MISSION project is aligned and directly contributes to different European initiatives, including The European Green Deal, The Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, and The Zero Emission Waterborne Partnership.
MISSION develops an interoperable digital, real-time decision support tool enabling communication and coordinated port call operations, for streamlining logistics, enhancing safety, and reducing noxious emissions and greenhouse gases. This enables ships to get just-in-time (JIT) at the port area and allows them to proceed directly to their berth without waiting. Stakeholders benefit from increased transparency and information sharing that enable them to optimize their resources, including port hinterland modalities in compliance with the Maritime Labor Convention. Communicating terminal or port readiness earlier to vessels allows ships to adjust speed and save fuel of up to 21% of the overall voyage. Especially high fuel savings can be achieved through JIT strategy and slow steaming in bulk and container shipping. While RoRo-vessels normally operate at pre-defined routes and on fixed schedules, they benefit from less traffic-condensed port entries and seaways as well as transparent real-time communication of readiness levels regarding ports and terminals. The MISSION project is aligned and directly contributes to different European initiatives, including The European Green Deal, The Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, and The Zero Emission Waterborne Partnership.
The evaluation of existing standards for JIT port call optimization (PCO) to base MISSION and align with on-going standardization initiatives is one outcome documented in deliverable D1.1 of Work Package (WP) 1. Strategies to effectively overcome operational and commercial barriers that limit the success of previous initiatives such as “virtual arrival” have been studied. Current practices, policies, and legal frameworks that promote transparency and effective communication are further studied and documented in D1.2. The alignment of ship-port call processes, and event time stamps under a harmonized MISSION semantics architecture with available operational and digital standards such as IMO/ISO, DCSA, IALA, TIC4.0 as well as an innovation roadmap for operational and standardization is in the making.
A high-level description of the end-to-end orchestration architecture that continuously evaluates optimal arrival queues, prescribes required/requested times of arrival (RTAs), communicates target schedules, and optimizes voyage plans while monitoring safety and accuracy is provided in D.2.1. subject to WP2. MISSION’s architecture provides a holistic solution for real-time up-to-date data sharing including fleet management optimization, voyage optimization, and simulations for navigational safety and enables predictive analytics for port call planning using state-of-the-art machine learning methods; see also Figure 1. The architecture diagram shows the hierarchical structure of platform services, data input systems, integration services, MISSION optimization services, and data output interfaces. The development of technical services, models, interfaces, and system integration for enhanced situational awareness and vessel schedule optimization based on JIT principles is undertaken in WP3. Prediction models and services are developed to monitor vessel voyage progress and predict arrival times to destination ports. The latter are compared to data from vessel operators and port community systems (PCS), allowing identification of schedule discrepancies corresponding to the potential of reducing predicted waiting times. Voyage optimization services evaluate the most efficient route and speed to meet the required time of arrival (RTA) at the port considering weather conditions to provide safe passage information to onboard navigation systems (ECDIS). Methods for assessing navigational hazards and their impact on estimated times of arrival (ETAs) are developed and a dynamic safety index is defined, to be communicated via MISSION for port collaborative decision making.
MISSION comprises five demonstration cases for testing and evaluating MISSION’s system and tools subject to WP4. For comparison and measurement, demonstration scenarios are defined, and a validation plan is developed. Measurements for the technology readiness levels (TRLs), validation, and assessment, lessons learned, best practice and standardization of feedback are in the making.
A comprehensive Strategy and Roadmap for dissemination and exploitation of results is available. Key achievements include the development of a refreshed project website, serving as the central dissemination platform, the creation of strong visual identity and communication materials, the implementation of a social media strategy and delivery of bi-annual newsletters, the production of videos interviews and a concept animation and active dissemination through 10 scientific publications. Outreach includes participation in industry events, e.g. the Waterborne Days 2025 in collaboration with sister project DYNAPORT. A field visit to Valencia brings policymakers and media from Brussels and across Europe to witness the demo sites in action.
To ensure efficient and timely management of the project, clear and transparent procedures for management are implemented, including quality assurance and risk management. Project activities are facilitated, and the timely delivery of milestones and deliverables is coordinated. Reports on project progress and management of budgets are available.
A high-level description of the end-to-end orchestration architecture that continuously evaluates optimal arrival queues, prescribes required/requested times of arrival (RTAs), communicates target schedules, and optimizes voyage plans while monitoring safety and accuracy is provided in D.2.1. subject to WP2. MISSION’s architecture provides a holistic solution for real-time up-to-date data sharing including fleet management optimization, voyage optimization, and simulations for navigational safety and enables predictive analytics for port call planning using state-of-the-art machine learning methods; see also Figure 1. The architecture diagram shows the hierarchical structure of platform services, data input systems, integration services, MISSION optimization services, and data output interfaces. The development of technical services, models, interfaces, and system integration for enhanced situational awareness and vessel schedule optimization based on JIT principles is undertaken in WP3. Prediction models and services are developed to monitor vessel voyage progress and predict arrival times to destination ports. The latter are compared to data from vessel operators and port community systems (PCS), allowing identification of schedule discrepancies corresponding to the potential of reducing predicted waiting times. Voyage optimization services evaluate the most efficient route and speed to meet the required time of arrival (RTA) at the port considering weather conditions to provide safe passage information to onboard navigation systems (ECDIS). Methods for assessing navigational hazards and their impact on estimated times of arrival (ETAs) are developed and a dynamic safety index is defined, to be communicated via MISSION for port collaborative decision making.
MISSION comprises five demonstration cases for testing and evaluating MISSION’s system and tools subject to WP4. For comparison and measurement, demonstration scenarios are defined, and a validation plan is developed. Measurements for the technology readiness levels (TRLs), validation, and assessment, lessons learned, best practice and standardization of feedback are in the making.
A comprehensive Strategy and Roadmap for dissemination and exploitation of results is available. Key achievements include the development of a refreshed project website, serving as the central dissemination platform, the creation of strong visual identity and communication materials, the implementation of a social media strategy and delivery of bi-annual newsletters, the production of videos interviews and a concept animation and active dissemination through 10 scientific publications. Outreach includes participation in industry events, e.g. the Waterborne Days 2025 in collaboration with sister project DYNAPORT. A field visit to Valencia brings policymakers and media from Brussels and across Europe to witness the demo sites in action.
To ensure efficient and timely management of the project, clear and transparent procedures for management are implemented, including quality assurance and risk management. Project activities are facilitated, and the timely delivery of milestones and deliverables is coordinated. Reports on project progress and management of budgets are available.
MISSION goes beyond state-of-the-art by encompassing the overall maritime transport chain to share real-time data on timely events. Its comprehensive solution allows for planning, scheduling, executing, and monitoring of seabound maritime traffic including safety measurements, together with port resources and services. Fuel savings of 10-21% and related GHG-emission reductions of an overall ship voyage are envisioned. Higher fuel savings can be reached when further considering port operations and hinterland traffic information, which is the case for MISSION including partners that provide commercial and open-source software systems.