“To achieve “just-in-time” (JIT) port calls in container shipping it is necessary to improve predictability and operational transparency between all stakeholders in the port call ecosystem. This will reduce idle time and waste by enabling better resource planning, which will lead to increased efficiency, reduced emissions, increased safety, and an improved customer experience for exporters and importers.”
This is one of DCSA‘s (Digital Container Shipping Association) objective in releasing Just-in-Time (JIT) Port Call Data Definitions version 1.2 Beta.
Stakeholder collaboration, data sharing and transparency is essential at all levels of the port call ecosystem to achieve global GHG (greenhouse gas) emission savings. Although the initiative has been taken by the DCSA, the proposed port call framework can be used for all types of ships and not restricted to container ships.
As per a DCSA press release, the release includes interface standards and messaging API specifications for 110 trade-agnostic event timestamps, enabling the full cycle of planning for all nautical services including pilotage, towage, mooring and other vessel services.
“DCSA JIT interface standards allow carriers, ports, terminals and other service providers involved in a port call to exchange event data in a uniform way, enabling automated data exchange.” the release noted
Widespread adoption of DCSA JIT port call standards will benefit stakeholders in the following areas:
- Improved port call planning through advance notification of arrival/departure and berth availability will enable vessels to adjust speed ahead of arrival, reducing fuel consumption and therefore emissions.
- Transparency of berth (and yard) planning in terminals (between appropriate stakeholders) will allow service providers to better plan gangs and assets to improve overall utilisation and reduce idle time.
- Consistent timestamp measurements will enable best practice comparisons for the benefit of all stakeholders including end customers who should see marked improvement in cargo delivery and release processes.
DCSA JIT port call standards enable practical implementation of the principles described in a recently published IMO study—Just In Time Arrival – Emissions reduction potential in global container shipping.
The study estimates that between 4% (12h before arrival) and 14% (port to port) of the fuel used per voyage can be saved, representing 6 to 19 million tons of CO2 saved per year by improving port call efficiency. This is equal to 3% to 10% of the total emissions of the container shipping industry.
Open for feedback
DCSA Just-in-Tine Port Call Data Definitions 1.2 Beta is open to public review and feedback for a three-month period beginning July 5. Interested parties can download the standards and provide feedback at www.dcsa.org/feedback. Once the review period is ended, DCSA will revise the standards based on input and publish the official release of DCSA Just-in-Time Port Call Data Definitions 1.2 within a three-month timeframe.
The DCSA Just-in-Time Port Call Data Definitions 1.2 Beta publication comprises the following set of documents:
- DCSA Just-in-Time Port Call Data Definitions 1.2 Beta
- DCSA Interface Standard for Just-in-Time Port Call 1.2 Beta
- DCSA Industry Blueprint 2022.2
- DCSA Information Model 2022.2
- Associated Reading Guides, where applicable
In addition to these documents, DCSA has published an API definition on the SwaggerHub open-source API development platform, and a reference implementation is available on GitHub.
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