The Port of Rotterdam Authority is constantly working on Port Call Optimisation: ensuring that ship visits run as safely and efficiently as possible.
From departure from the previous port until leaving the port of Rotterdam. An important step in this process is the accurate positioning of terminals and berths. Thanks to a collaboration between the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Royal Netherlands Navy Hydrographic Service (Hydrographic Service), the location data for this infrastructure has become much more accurate and accessible to all parties in the maritime chain. Various port users benefit from this in both the contractual and operational phases.
Previously, location data was based on the names of terminals and berths. When ownership changed, the name often changed as well, which could lead to confusion. That is why unique Global Location Numbers (GLNs) have now been assigned to port infrastructure worldwide. These GLNs are already in use in the logistics sector and have now been integrated into the Harbour Master Management System (HaMIS) and the Port Community System (PCS) Portbase—the core systems of the Port of Rotterdam. Because the Harbour Master uses this data daily in notifications, the data is highly reliable. Updates are performed twice daily, during which changes to the datasets are shared.
Captains of seagoing vessels require detailed information in order to plan their voyages and navigate safely in accordance with IMO Resolution A.893(21). This data is available in their advanced navigation system ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System). An ECDIS uses official Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC). The Hydrographic Service publishes these ENCs and other nautical products. Each country has its own Hydrographic Service, which is the only entity authorized to publish ENCs. Port authorities are not permitted to do this. To ensure safe shipping traffic, terminals and berths must be accurately indicated in ENCs. Hydrographic Services collect data from ports in their country. If the accuracy of this data cannot be guaranteed, it is usually not included in ENCs. It is therefore crucial that port authorities and Hydrographic Services share location data correctly and in a standardized manner. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is the first port authority in the world to achieve this.
Shippers need precise location data to comply with clauses relating to safe ports and berths. The ships they deploy must match the berth, and collecting location data from different databases is time-consuming. Now there is a single point of truth: one platform with validated location data. Through an Application Programming Interface (API), shippers can link their systems to Portbase and immediately access the correct data. Thanks to near real-time updates, ships and berths can be matched automatically.
In addition to captains and shippers, nautical service providers such as pilots and linesmen also benefit from standardization. Pilots use the same data on the nautical chart as captains. The standardization of location data eliminates any room for differences in interpretation. Linesmen can determine the mooring configuration in advance based on accurate location data.
In addition to location data, the Port Authority also wants to map the depths and restrictions of terminals and berths in a standardized manner. These three datasets can be used to assess whether a ship is suitable for the Port of Rotterdam in 99% of cases. The Port of Rotterdam Authority calls on other port authorities to share their location data with their national hydrographic services in the same standardized manner. The solution is highly scalable and globally applicable.
