At the heart of the MarNIS concept is the creation of a national single window for electronically storing and distributing details of transiting vessels on the basis of once only reporting and state of  the art tracking technology. These are then available for vessel traffic management and port entry, as well as pollution control and search and rescue. Customs, immigration and security authorities could also have access to the information.

The traffic image in a MOS centre uses data from mandatory onboard Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders and Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) by satellite to give vessel position and past trajectory, beyond the range of radar and even outside territorial waters. Static and dynamic data such as ETA, next port of call, and cargo can be called up via the national single window, by accessing the pan-European SafeSeaNet and other databases.  

This enhanced traffic image will enable operators manning a suitably equipped MOS centre to extend their awareness of traffic considerably. In the event of an incident, so called ‘web maps’ (spatially referenced data available online through the Internet) can be overlaid on the traffic image display of a MOS centre to present real-time meteorological and hydrological data.  

Drift models can be run to predict the movement of a ship that has lost command, an oil slick, or persons overboard, again using web mapping, and visualized on the MOS centre display. Web mapped information may also be sent onboard to pilots equipped with a special portable unit to provide dynamic under keel clearance data in real time, which could extend tidal windows for port entry and exit, as well as enhancing safety.

Earlier versions of the concept were tested at the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency Training Facility at Highcliffe in February 2007 and again, in a realistic operational environment, at the MCA Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Milford Haven (UK), in June 2007 and February 2008, with generally positive reactions from users.  

Further information at www.marnis.org