Maritime Integrated Affiliation

Collaborative Intelligent Platform

It is not feasible to constantly update data while also taking into account the perspectives and procedures of all stakeholders involved. Instead, the solution is to implement a living system with both procedural and operational structures that ensures the needs of all stakeholders are addressed. This system is referred to as MIA.

Why Do You Need MIA?

How do you facilitate trade?
Every year, more than two hundred countries in the world trade thousands of products. Different countries go to different trade practices for different products, and this creates confusion. The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have published a set of conventions for trade facilitation. Countries see Trade Facilitation as a critical factor for the efficiency of trade and the sustainability of economic development.
Complex and dynamic nature of global trade
In international trade, hundreds of documents are transferred between dozens of actors as commercial goods move through the supply chain.
With which tools can trade be facilitated?
This is where the Single Window concept comes into play. Single Window is a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single-entry point to fulfil all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. If information is electronic, then individual data elements should only be submitted once.
MSW will be mandatory in 2024
IMO's Facilitation Committee has adopted amendments to the Facilitation (FAL) Convention which will make the single window for data exchange mandatory in ports around the world, marking a significant step in the acceleration of digitalization in shipping.

• Maritime single window (MSW): It is a platform where data entry is made by both public and private sector stakeholders in the processes related to maritime and port services. Maritime trade has complex and dynamic process and can benefit from several technology-driven innovations as Maritime Single Window.

MIA as a MSW and PCS

The MIA platform is a cutting-edge public-private data collaboration and exchange system, alike to a Port Community System. Its primary purpose is to streamline and optimize the intricate business processes within ports by facilitating seamless communication and data exchange among various systems and stakeholders involved in port call procedures. This is achieved through the submission of standardized and harmonized data, creating a unified source of information, often referred to as the “single source of truth (SSOT).”

By enabling all subsystems to communicate and exchange data concurrently, the MIA platform fosters collaboration toward a common goal. Its objective is not to disrupt the operations of other systems but to eliminate intermediaries, redundancies, and inefficiencies. This results in improved port efficiency, reduced operational costs, and enhanced overall system operations.

One of the standout features of the MIA platform is its flexibility. It offers a dynamic process definition function, allowing users to customize their processes and approval mechanisms as needed. Additionally, MIA platform includes authorization-based data filtering, ensuring data privacy and security based on user roles and data attributes.

The MIA platform extends its capabilities to provide Just in Time (JIT) Arrival services during vessel voyages. This service ensures continuous coordination and updates of timestamps such as Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA), Real Time of Arrival (RTA), Estimated Time of Departure (ETD), and Real Time of Departure (RTD). By optimizing ship arrival times at ports, this feature enhances efficiency, reduces waiting times, conserves fuel, and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions.

MIA platform is not just a standard Port Community System; it goes beyond with additional functionalities. It can be deployed as a standalone platform integrated with multiple port systems or as a tailored solution that incorporates Port Community System (PCS), Port Management Information System (PMIS), and Maritime Single Window (MSW) functionalities/modules in a seamlessly integrated manner.

Systems that make up the MIA orchestra

MIA works in harmony with 7 systems, taking into account the principles of transparency, simplification, and standardization. 

The output of one subsystem is the input of another.

Terminal Operating System

  • Satisfying discharge and loading requirements and developing vessel bay plans by transferring information to the system via EDI.
  • Automation in creating standard offers, customer-specific offers, and invoices.
  • Giving ports an opportunity to focus on the core activities of port management by managing every aspect of the firm – subcontractor relationship.
  • Optimizing nautical services (pilotage, towage, etc.) by presenting a list of vessel call operations for which pilots and tugboats can be assigned.
  • Automating entry and exit operations by the structure of integrated with bar-code and RFID applications.
  • Monitoring the actual situation at yards and approves job orders.
  • Allowing the port operators and equipment operators (stacking and moving equipment) to record operational phases through hand terminals.
  • Keeping data up-to-date by providing to customers both process and operational tracking on a real-time basis.
  • Creating early warning system, a decision support system tool based on Artificial Intelligence to prevent any confusion/complexities.
  • Creating Digital Twins, a simulation optimization system based on what-if scenarios to find the best on-time or the most cost-effective operation options.
  • Increasing safety and air quality in the port area and reducing risk of collisions by offering solutions based on Just in Time (JIT) Arrival principles.

The purpose of JIT Arrival Guide is to provide information and proposals to the port and shipping sectors as well as port and maritime administrations on how to facilitate JIT Arrival of ships with a view to reducing GHG emissions by optimizing the port call business process and providing sustainable solutions to customers in the end-to-end supply chain.

Port Management System

  • Enables the users to make their own definitions (Vessel Definition, Company Definition (Goods Owner, Agent, Vessel Agent, Port Company, etc. Berth Definition, etc.) to design operations and deliver them to the customers.
  • Optimizing vessel scheduling in the scope of JIT Arrival principles.
  • Serving for JIT Arrival operation to improve accurate capacity planning of nautical services, berths, and resources.
  • Presenting real-time data related to all port locations to optimize berthing, unberthing, and shifting operations by creating dynamic calendar.
  • Monitoring the pilots and tugboats movements when they are scheduled for a vessel.
  • Tracking the real-time data of flow of cargo (import and export) manifests including loading/unloading, lighterage operations.
  • Minimizing risk by automatically notify Customs and Port Authorities about the hazardous goods carried by a vessel for the entrance/exit of dangerous goods in/from the Port.
  • Automatically matching requested port services (Vessel Washing, Vessel Water Supply, Vessel Waste Disposal, Vessel Bunkering, Customs Clearance, etc.) and available service providers.
  • Track and Trace of all activities, operations, and results real-timely.
  • Digital tracking the real data of activities, invoices, etc. related to the entire operations via dashboard menu involving a set of live graphic charts.
  • Sending early warning messages by Artificial Intelligent tools to relevant stakeholder before confusions/complexities occur regarding Ship and Cargo.
  • Auditing on key events by creating various port users, supporting role-based access rights, and thus ensuring total visibility into entire history of all operations.
  • Integrating with 3rd party systems and service providers by providing critical information to all system users in real time via ERP solutions.
  • Forecasting almost an accurate berth planning through the early warning system with a high consistency rate.
  • Optimizing operations, decreasing operational costs, preventing risks and environmental damage, and increasing operational reliability by using Digital Twins.
  • Lowering Greenhouse Gas emissions including carbon emissions by serving for Just in Time operation.

Port Community System

  • Supporting communication between supply chain stakeholders (shipping lines, agents, freight forwarders, stevedores, terminals, depots, importers, exporters) in port area.
  • Acting as gateways into other MIA Subsystems (TOS, NSW, CMS, PMIS).
  • Cargo declaration covering detailed information with data entry once.
  • Dangerous goods notification for stowage, segregation, etc.
  • Freight and vessels taxes (port and customs dues) declaration.

National Single Window

  • Submitting ship arrival notifications covering detailed ship information.
  • Entering many necessary declarations (Port Call, Waste Declaration, IMDG Declaration, etc.) once and forwarding them to many relevant institutions.
  • Entering requests (berthing, anchoring, shifting, etc.) to be made to the port facility.
  • Entering seafarer and passenger information into the system.
  • Entering ship’s papers (P&I certificate, certificate of registry, cargo manifest, etc.) into the system.

Vessel Traffic Management System

  • Enables collision avoidance and safe navigation by remote sensors monitoring and control.
  • Manage maritime traffic and increases Navigation & Traffic efficiency in port areas by information sharing between relevant stakeholders, as per need and access level.
  • Increases awareness and safety by sharing dynamic information about the VTS area.
  • Supports decision-making in critical situations and enables interaction with vessels.

E-payment System

  • Allowing customers to pay for port services electronically.
  • Involving the transfer of information on payments made electronically, instead of the physical exchange of paper (cash, cheques, demand drafts, vouchers, etc.).
  • Facilitates logistical and commercial processes by helping in obtaining regulatory clearance rapidly.

Customs Management System

  • Helping customs to target suspicious declarations and apply the correct number of duties when necessary.
  • Confirmation of booking by advising the shipper.
  • Screening Customs Status by delivering EDI message interface between Customs and the Port Community System.
  • Completing management of goods input and output into customs warehouses.
  • Controlling the arrival of goods arriving on harbour-input checkpoint.