Sea Traffic Management: The Challenge Of Standardising Sea Traffic Management Globally

The successor of the MONALISA 2.0 (2013-2015) project and inspired by Air Traffic Management systems, it was created within the European STM framework, an ambitious project that “seeks to standardise sea traffic management worldwide similar to the way air traffic is currently standardised”, says Albert González, Head of IT Services at the Port of Barcelona.

The STM initiative suggests establishing a standardised information exchange using open interfaces accessible to all the industry stakeholders. In this way, routes can be designed in real time, adjusting departures and arrivals, eliminating wait times, lowering the use of fuel and reducing the number of accidents. This new conception breaks with “the historical way of doing things, which was quite different” says Albert González, a more conservative way of operating which was not used to working in collaborative environments.

Clearly defined objectives

The main goals of the STM project work towards efficiency from all perspectives.

1. Maritime safety: This system manages to prevent all kinds of incidents, especially those that involve human lives.
2. Environmental impact: By optimising ships’ routes, they can adjust their cruising speed with the minimum fuel consumption and lower emissions of pollutants. “Ninety percent of goods worldwide are transported by sea traffic. The number of ships operating in the seas and oceans is enormous. If we can lower the fuel consumption, even just by 1%, we will save many tonnes per year”, says Albert González.
3. Efficiency: By making ports operate with the Just-in-Time (JIT) model. “As soon as a ship arrives at the entrance to the port, it won’t have to wait in the anchoring spot but will enter, load, unload and as soon as it’s finished, it can leave and the next one can enter. This is more efficient for ports, it means more income and it makes them more appealing to shipping companies and terminals”, says Albert González.