MSSIS

Maritime Safety & Security Information System

What is MSSIS?

The Maritime Safety & Security Information System (MSSIS) combines Automatic Identification System* (AIS) data from participating nations into a single data stream through secure Internet-based servers. Through MSSIS, participating governments can view real-time AIS data from around the world in a wide range of geographic display options, including text, photo overlays, electronic charts, and Google Earth. Displays can also integrate additional features such as user-provided radar overlays.

MSSIS was developed by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center at the US Department of Transportation's Research and Innovative Technology Administration and is available to nations worldwide to improve global maritime safety, security, commerce and environmental stewardship.

*The IMO requires AIS transmission by all ships of 500 gross tons and above, all ships of 300 gross tons and above on international voyages, and all passenger ships irrespective of size.

By sharing data, MSSIS participants can view a picture of the maritime domain that far exceeds the data they can gather alone. More than 50 nations around the globe already share AIS data through MSSIS.

Benefits of MSSIS

The global sharing of AIS data among governments through a common, open exchange provides a solid foundation for and a path to greater international trust, cooperation and open dialog and thus, improved stability, security, trade, and environmental stewardship.

MSSIS provides participating nations unprecedented access to global shipping information. Some specific benefits of sharing AIS data via MSSIS include:

• Feeding data to existing in-country maritime awareness systems & initiatives.
• Building regional Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) capabilities.
• Allowing the development of vessel safety statistics & analysis of vessel transits.
• Serving as the underlying feed for layering complementary data (radar pictures, oil spill monitoring, port operations etc.).

MSSIS already serves as the data feed for many sophisticated applications benefiting seafarers and citizens of nations around the world.

MSSIS capabilities

The Volpe Center provides Transview (TV32), a Windows application, to access the MSSIS network. Transview provides a means to view MSSIS data and can also serve as interface between the MSSIS network and other MDA systems your government might already have.

Additional capabilities of TV32 include:

• Vessel traffic management (VTS, situation displays etc.)
• Canal transit management
• Maritime de-confliction
• Safety statistics (via data logging & playback, snap shot files)
• Pilot navigation (ETA, closest point of approach, dead reckoning)
• Accident investigation (via data logging and playback)
• Buoy positioning
• Oil spill modeling display
• Harbor surveillance
• Secure vessel transiting
• Monitoring of territorial waters
• Security zones - dynamic, static, user-defined

Secure data exchange

Protecting vessel data from unauthorized use is crucial. MSSIS enables password-protected, Internet-based sharing of AIS data using encrypted data links (TCP/IP SSL Secure Socket Layer).

• No processing, alteration, or storing occurs
• Data is open source and freely shared among participating governments
• Can be used by any system that uses standard format AIS data

An innovative solution to global challenges

MSSIS is a winner of the 2008 Innovations in American Government Award from the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School for its efforts in enhancing levels of safety and economic stability in the global seas.

How to participate

While MSSIS is solely one means to an end, with more than 50 nations already sharing data, MSSIS becomes more valuable with every new participant.

By contributing AIS data into MSSIS, a country becomes eligible to receive the AIS data from all nations participating in MSSIS. Technical assistance is available to any country with a willingness to participate. Transview (TV32), the MSSIS client software, is provided free-of charge by the Volpe Center.

Nations interested in learning more about MSSIS can contact the interim MSSIS administrator, the U.S. Office of Global Maritime Situational Awareness (OGMSA), to arrange a visit by a technical assessment team. This team can demonstrate the benefits of MSSIS and discuss participation requirements.

For more information, contact OGMSA at

Tel: 202-372-3053

Fax: 202-372-3905

James.L.Feldkamp@uscg.mil

-- ChadHolmes - 14 Jan 2009