Setting Sail for Success: TLIP’s Role in Driving Maritime Advancements via the EU-Funded MISSION Project
TL;DR
TLIP is participating in the Horizon Europe project MISSION, an EU-funded project that will be executed by a consortium including 30 different organisations over 3.5 years. The project has been awarded 7.5 million euros to improve the maritime sector through digitalisation efforts focused on decreasing port traffic, associated costs, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Trade and Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP) is among 30 organisations including ports, shipping companies, universities, and technology firms selected to execute MISSION (MaritIme juSt in time optimiSatION). Launched last month and led by the University of Southern Denmark, MISSION has been granted €7.5 million by the EU to develop a new digital communication and logistics platform over the next three and a half years, to improve the maritime sector by decreasing port traffic, associated costs, and greenhouse gas emissions.
MISSION is part of the €95.5 billion Horizon Europe programme, which is the EU’s principal funding programme for research and innovation focused on tackling climate change as well as boosting the EU’s competitiveness and growth in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Why MISSION? Fragmentation, delays, and greenhouse gases in the maritime sector
Accounting for over 80% of the world’s trade, maritime transport is a crucial part of the global economy. However, the maritime sector struggles with challenges that arise from a common root cause: fragmentation. Maritime transport suffers from a fragmented information technology (IT) landscape with an almost endless number of different IT systems used by the different actors in the supply chain. Systems such as port community systems and fleet performance management systems might automate data, connect individual systems of different stakeholders, and allow real-time data sharing, but mostly operate in silos, requiring resource-intensive and time-consuming work to keep essential information updated.
The lack of effective communication of real-time information disrupts maritime supply chains, as not all partners in various port call phases receive updated information. This can create delays, which often result in a situation where vessels find the terminal or port unprepared upon arrival, leading to waiting periods at anchorage within the port area.
In the absence of a comprehensive mechanism for effectively planning and monitoring port operations and sea traffic, most ports manage incoming ships on a first-come-first-served basis rather than according to an analysed and well-planned scheme — a practice that results in:
- Congestion in ports
- Disruption and delays in vessel schedules
- Increased greenhouse gas emissions due to longer waiting times at ports. Average anchorage times can account for 5–10% of ship voyage durations during which ships still emit CO2 while running auxiliary engines consuming around 15% of the voyage’s marine fuel.
All of this leads to huge losses in terms of time, money, and efficiency. In 2022, the costs of traffic congestion in the US, UK, and Germany amounted to nearly 100 billion dollars. Moreover, traffic congestion hits especially hard in cities located around ports, worsening the quality of health of its inhabitants.
A MISSION of optimisation: synchronised traffic and reduced emissions
MISSION will develop a new communication and logistics platform to facilitate the synchronisation of ship schedules. The platform will optimise planning, coordinate port operations, and orchestrate port traffic seamlessly, encompassing both the seaside and hinterland aspects. MISSION anticipates that providing timely information about terminal or port readiness to vessels can result in adjusting speed and achieving fuel savings of up to 23% for the entire voyage, inclusive of greenhouse gas emission reductions. Additionally, MISSION aims to enhance navigational safety by 20–30%.
MISSION’s objective is to cover the entire maritime transport process, enabling the exchange of real-time information regarding critical events such as navigational safety during entry and exit from port zones. The initiative also considers optimal routing based on weather and oceanographic data to minimise fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. To accomplish these goals, the collaboration will leverage diverse expertise and technologies, while adhering to standardisation initiatives to ensure MISSION’s compatibility with existing IT infrastructure.
TLIP: Elevating MISSION with secure data
Within the MISSION project, the TLIP infrastructure leverages IOTA’s distributed ledger technology to facilitate seamless integration with existing systems through the use of APIs and state-of-the-art data standards. TLIP’s contribution is important for the successful implementation of MISSION, as it guarantees the security and auditability of shared data within the dynamic landscape of port operations.
TLIP’s inherent interoperability also facilitates the smooth integration of the MISSION platform into the European Blockchain Service Infrastructure (EBSI), amplifying its data-sharing capabilities.
TLIP proves essential for just-in-time port call optimisation i.e., improved planning and alignment of port operations as a result of better vessel arrival and departure, addressing challenges posed by ships at sea with limited bandwidth and unstable connections. This makes TLIP an important part of the MISSION project, revolutionising data sharing, fostering collaboration, and propelling port operations into a new era of innovation.
Looking ahead, the MISSION project envisions integrating TLIP with AI-driven smart contracts, enhancing responsiveness to exchanged data, including alarms for non-compliance and delays.
The integration of TLIP in MISSION is a prime example of the IOTA Foundation’s commitment to improving global supply chains through the industrial adoption of its technology: see here for further use cases.
The TLIP team is thrilled about this partnership and eagerly anticipates joining forces with talented teams across Europe. Together, we’re committed to shaping a unified future that brings economic prosperity and promotes the well-being of people, transport, and energy. As we embark on this journey of collaboration, we are confident that our collective efforts will pave the way for a transformative and harmonious future. Follow our LinkedIn page and the project website for continuous updates on the project.
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
