The main aim of the project is to raise the use of ICT in the broad Maritime Community on both sides of the Irish Sea through identification of the eBusiness service needs and levels of usage and skills, and the development and deployment of relevant web based solutions and personnel training.
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- Firstly, Port Authority companies are themselves participants in the marine process but more importantly they are the key influencer and catalysts for improving Port services. They will need to have a minimum level of ICT capability to ensure their participation and promulgation of information. Where there is a deficiency in required infrastructure they will be funded for the gap by this project. There is a range of benefits identified below from which they will avail.
- Secondly, there is a number of Service Providers within the Ports who will have immediate benefit from the Information Services provided by the Portal Site; these include Forwarders, Brokers etc.
- Thirdly, there is a range of Trade parties that use or provide service in the Ports and Marine Transport, including Exporters and Importers, Hauliers and Truckers. These and other players will benefit from the Information Services available from the Portal Website, which is currently only available from individual parties in using manual means. Without the active participation of the Port Authority companies the centralisation of information and the co-ordination of the diverse sources of the information will not be possible.
Shipping Lines are the biggest players in the Marine sector, and their participation in this project is vital. In terms of technology, however, as they are in general very sophisticated users of ICT they will not be funded under this Project. They are however the key carrier of the Cargo, Passengers and the related information flows required for processing and the distribution of the information throughout the chain is essential, and they will benefit from the efficiency of the general upgrading of the sector. They will also benefit from the results of one of the Consultant’s reports which looks into the current provision of cross channel crossings and whether it matches the customer requirements. Shipping Lines and Port Authorities will also contribute to the Project in kind through the facilitation of travel and training facilities.
For participation in the Project on their own behalf and as leaders on behalf of their Port Communities, the Port Authorities will obtain:
- Minimum level of PC or Server(level as identified in the requirements)
- Modems or other communications equipment
- Min level of Internet Access bandwidth (e.g. 64k ISDN/ASDL/DSL line, or as identified in study)
- Min level of operating software
- Company or Port Website to requirements with 3 year hosting, or where there is existing satisfactory site, the eCommerce implementation behind that site
- Facility for Ports to update and self administer their own Website content
- Consultancy on business and technical requirements
- Full involvement in design and provision of eCommerce Portal services
- Staff training
- Systems integration, a file interface to standard Accounting system will be developed
- Enhanced level of communications e.g. automated email and SMS messaging
i-Sea.net Portal
The I-Sea.Net Portal is central point for port authorities and their customers to trade and share information. The applications developed can be summarised as follows:
Planning:
- Sailing schedules
- Advanced booking requests
Process:
- ISPS reporting
- Hazmat reporting
- Manifest transfer
- CSO/Eurostat reporting
- e-invoicing
- Customs declarations (Optional)
Monitor:
- Email notifications
- Report writer
- Deep Sea Tracking capabilities (Optional)
Share:
- General Port information
- Weather
- Route Planning
- Customer listings
The i-Sea.net portal consists of the following applications:
- Advance Booking
- Messenger
- Ships Details
- Security (ISPS)
- Marpol
- Hazmat
- Manifest
- CSO/Eurostat reporting
- Integrator ( with accounts packages)
