BIMCO Workshop Highlights Path to Harmonised Ship-to-Shore Digital Interfaces - News and Statistics

Jun 22, 2026

BIMCO, together with ITS Norway and the DYNAPORT project, hosted a two-day industry gathering in Copenhagen aimed at examining ways the maritime sector can expedite the alignment of digital interfaces connecting vessels and shore-side entities.

The event drew 45 participants from shipping firms, port authorities, regulatory bodies, and technology vendors. Operating under the Chatham House Rule, it offered an impartial setting for candid dialogue about one of the most significant hurdles in maritime digitalization: achieving widespread, practical interoperability.

Conversations revolved around three linked topics shaping the future of digital information exchange at sea: the role of commercial incentives in driving adoption, the harmonization of data structures and system protocols, and the establishment of trust across a global network of diverse players. A broad agreement emerged that, although notable strides have been taken in crafting frameworks and standards, the primary obstacle now lies in ensuring uniform application.

The workshop yielded three essential findings. First, the IMO Compendium is widely acknowledged as the foundational semantic reference for maritime digitalization, offering a shared vocabulary for definitions and meanings, though it is not meant to function as a detailed technical or operational guide. Second, the sector is gravitating toward federated system designs instead of centralized hubs, enabling current platforms to work together without requiring replacement. Third, trust mechanisms are vital for expanding data sharing, demanding solid systems for identity verification, authentication, and oversight, supported by explicit governance rules and enhanced global collaboration.

A central lesson was that the maritime industry has moved past debating what information should be shared; the focus has shifted to ensuring that existing standards are implemented uniformly across regions, industries, and technology suppliers. Future vessel-to-shore data exchanges are improbable to depend on a single, all-encompassing solution addressing both semantic and technical interoperability. Instead, advancement will hinge on principle-driven harmonization, grounded in shared semantic references, mutually accepted implementation guidelines, and coordinated international governance.

To translate broad consensus into concrete steps, the workshop endorsed creating a concise, principle-based industry statement. By grounding efforts in practical guidelines rather than rigid specifications, the sector can speed up interoperability while preserving the adaptability necessary to foster innovation and accommodate varied operational settings.

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