The first improvement phase (see fig xx(4.2.1.6)) sets out to show the initial benefits of STM to the industry, even though the heavier infrastructural, and organisational such as standardisation, harmonisation of formats and governance work won’t be delivering effects until the second improvement phase. However, it is important to show that STM can make real impact on several of the targeted improvement areas already in IP1.

In the beginning of IP1, the STM validation project, (EUXXXXXX) is running, delivering proof of concept by demonstration and validating several of the concepts and services, developed in the earlier MONALISA and MONALISA 2.0 projects. During this time, also the foundation of the governance-bodies of the future STM is slowly being shaped, and anchored among the stakeholders of the industry.

Since the common information infrastructure, SeaSwim, will not be fully operational until IP2, the services utilising SeaSwim will therefore not be able to reach its full potential during IP 1. However, there are several new services envisaged during IP1 that are based on the Route Exchange format. By using transponder based exchange  mechanism, or by other proprietary channels, this will give the possibility to launch services enhancing the situational awareness related to the sea voyage. During this period the standard developed and suggested in the MONALISA projects, are ratified by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), amended to the revised ECDIS performance standards (Resolution MSC.232(82)) by IMO, and implemented and included in the upgrades of all major ECDIS-suppliers.

Some essential building blocks for the industry to adapt to the service system that STM and SeaSWIM will enable, will be introduced in IP1. The establishment of a common actor catalogue and the Unique Voyage ID will be introduced and initially adopted in the industry, laying the foundations for the maritime service ecosystem to emerge. Supported by innovation infrastructure such as STM Developers Zone, where system providers can start utilizing emerging standards and concepts, the innovation capacity will be strengthened already in the first IP. The governance structure, where the industry takes part in shaping these tools for future shipping, is also established in IP1.

 

Onboard the ship and in VTS and SRS operations, the possibility of a ship declaring its intentions by sharing the nearby route (route segment) will improve the navigational aspects of the sea voyage. The introduction and adaption of Route Exchange Format (REXF) is giving room for new services where land-based actors such as VTS and SRS can support the ships in various ways, increasing safety and efficiency. The fact that ships can beforehand share the route with reporting areas, it is envisaged that a major part of the required ship reporting can be simplified already in the first IP. The fact that the sharing of the route information will give direct benefits to the ships and thereby ship owners, the incentives for participating voluntarily in STM will be high, resulting in significant advantages for the coastal- and the port states, simplifying monitoring of the traffic and enabling the possibility to prevent accidents and incidents.

Within the ports, the validation of STM have shown how the information-sharing among actors in the port, have improved predictability and efficiency in such degree, that the participating ports can show a significant improvement of the turn-around time for a port call, increasing profitability for both the ship and the port. The larger software system vendors to the ports, have started to adapt and adjusted their platforms to the Port-CDM principles, and being able to implement some of the Port-CDM services in the STM concept. This has been possible through the deployment of support-tools as the Port CDM Developer Zone and the Port CDM Service Infrastructure Platform (SIP). By this being gradually adopted by larger ports being in the forefront, the interest for participating in the development of Port-CDM will be increasing rapidly during IP1.

The broad spectra of projects and initiatives concerning e-navigation, e-maritime and e-freight are, during IP1, synchronised and co-governed with the forming of governing structure.