Core Principles

This is the Draft IALA-NET Core Purpose Document tabled at IALA-NET SG meeting in Oslo.

Vision

IALA-NET will initially be a coordination and oversight body for the open sharing of maritime data between governments fostering the safe, economic and efficient movement of vessels.

The long term vision for IALA-NET is to coordinate the creation and contributory participation in a global network of networks in support of e-Navigation data sharing and open-sourced capability development forum.

Basis

IALA is concerned as to the lack of a minimum level of navigational safety capability in certain ocean areas, whose utilization can only be expected to increase over time. IALA finds that these ocean areas lack sufficient capability due in part to:

- no nation is willing to singularly resource the necessary capability - a lack of sufficient statistical information to justify the improvements. - a lack of coordinating body to the resolution of the first two.

Further, while commercial and defense interests are each creating awareness capabilities to their own needs, a gap is resulting (both organizationally and in awareness/capability) which could negatively effect navigational safety.

While the level of the IALA-NET project will be dependent upon the level of cooperation by contributing nations, regional networks and participating users, it should be conducted on the principle of being at no or minimal costs to the maritime industry itself.

Purpose

Serve as coordination and oversight body to facilitate a minimum level of maritime navigation safety, environmental protection, and commercial efficiency regardless of global location.

Plan

It is the intent of IALA to reach that vision through the following steps:

Step 1:

Establish IALA-Net Steering Committee to research viability of the concept to include legal, technical and financial aspects.

Basis: Very few internationally bodies exist with the mandate to ensure global interconnection of AIS information or beyond. Presently there is no central forum by which to allow the comparison and exchange of best practices, lessons learned or capabilities.

Step 2:

Publish proposed recommendations and guidelines for the open sharing of maritime data between governments (Business rules, technical and legal aspects).

Basis: There is a lack of sufficient international standards through which maritime data can be shared between governments.

Step 3:

Establish a core network of networks via the goodwill contribution of core nations presently comprised of Denmark, China, and US.

Basis: Presently no means exists by which to share e-Navigation data globally. Existing regional data sharing networks are not interconnecting into a global grid.

Method:

- Contribute file server hardware (to include operations/maintenance) - Contribute data sharing software (to include maintenance/version control) - Contribute user interface software (to include maintenance/version control).

Each making a technician available to the technical working group to facilitate coordination of the above effort and to ensure adherence to IALA guidelines.

Step 4:

Advocate for the widest participation in IALA-NET network of networks by obtaining maritime navigation data from the widest number of contributing sources to the establishment of the most accurate picture.

Step 5:

Obtain navigation safety application software on an open sourced basis.