Activity 2 - Pilot projects

Objective

The aim was to plan, execute and actively support the pilot projects in all participating countries, possibly in cooperation and in cooperation with non-AnNa participating countries, to assist the EU Member States to effectively implement 2010/65/EU.

The main objectives were:

  • To identify and trial various technical solutions for countries to effectively implement the EU Directive 2010/65/EU.
  • To identify potential synergy between solutions in the event that individual countries have the ambition to further the functionality or level of service to be provided.

Activity 2 comprised 3 sub-activities, namely:

  • Sub-activity 2.1: Pilot Definition and Prototyping
  • Sub-activity 2.2: Pilot Implementation
  • Sub-activity 2.3: Pilot global reach

This Activity had as major goals to:

  • To assess viability and confirm final scope of national implementation plans;
  • To expand pilot implementation in order to further assess viability and test prior to full implementation;
  • To monitor the effects of the pilot execution on fulfilment of the requirements established by the 2010/65/EU.

A series of pilots have been defined representing as a minimum the following scenarios:

  • Category 1: Front Office - From ships or agents to a Maritime Single Window

From the ship’s or its agent’s aspect, a common message format has been considered and tested as to if and how it works in different scenarios. Various (harmonized) machine-machine interfaces have been developed and tested and also man-machine interfaces have been tested. Within this focus area, the ANNA project partners collaborated with ship owners and operators to find the best way to meet common requirements.

  • Category 2: Mid Office - Inside a Maritime Single Window

The work within a country, between different stakeholders, were anything from linking customs and border control to setting up technical solutions for data flowing between ports and authorities. This focus area differed between the countries participating in the ANNA project. The co-ordination of this area was condidered to be very important since the ANnNA partners tried to make it easier for the shipping industry.

  • Category 3: Back Office - Between Maritime Single Windows

This focus area was condidered to also be a very important input to future collaborations within, and perhaps outside the EU. ANNA looked into the opportunities to move information from one national MSW to another national MSW, e.g. a departure from a port in Sweden will become an arrival to a port in Portugal.

Different techniques have been identified and evaluated to find the most appropriate way for this international communication, within the context of EU legislation. This required a common dataset and messages to be agreed before exchange of data can be established. The cooperation of two or more EU Member States has been defined in the course of the project, i.e MSW2MSW

Also a number of “common pilots” will be developed in order to assess and promote the identification of similarities and agreements between the Member States, security, spreadsheet and Message Implementation Guide (MIG).

At least 55 pilot projects have been executed of which at least 16 have been demonstrated at the AnNA FInal Event on 3 and 4 December 2015 in Athens..

Tasks to be executed:

1. Sub-activity 2.1: Pilot Definition and Prototyping

The objective was to develop scenarios in order to define pilot actions to validate the integrity of the identified options. The pilots demonstrate the viability of the proposed actions and contribute to the final scope of the Master Plan as well as the (potential) impact analysis. Some countries have developed some prototyping activities to translate the requirements of the Master Plan 2015 into concrete pilot projects. Specifications have been drawn up for each pilot by the respective participants and referenced to the Master Plan 2015.

The result of the sub-activity were:

  •  The identification of all pilots to be run in the period mid 2012-2015. This sub activity focused on identifying opportunities for the category 2 pilots to cluster efforts where standardization and/or harmonization may be achieved within the category 1 and 3 pilots.
  • An elaborated project plan for the full pilot implementation by each participant.

2. Sub-activity 2.2: Pilot Implementation

The Pilots have been initiated with a view to gaining initial insight in the proof of the added value of the proposed measures and the viability for implementation in the short and medium term.

The result of the sub-activity were:

  •  The category 2 pilots implementation and, in identified cases, attempt to validate the measures in the interest of standardization and harmonization through Category 1 and 3 pilots.
  • A substantial number of pilot projects of which a substantial number crossing national borders.

3. Sub-activity 2.3: Pilot global reach

This sub-activity monitored the progress of the pilots and provide organisational, operational and/or technical assistance as required in order to allow the various national solutions to communicate with each other.

In addition this sub-activity collaborated with and connected to:

  • Sub-activity 1.3 in facilitating the Validation Process and ensuring input for the Implementation Plan 2015;
  • Sub – Activities 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 in aligning with the development of the Framework Master Plan post-2015 where deemed necessary;
  • Sub – Activities 4.1 and 4.2 in reporting to the Consultation Panel on progress and (interim) results;
  • Sub – Activity 5.2 on dissemination.

The result of the sub-activity was an evaluation on the prospects of MSW2MSW effective communication, also taking into account the interest of standardisation and harmonization through Category 3 pilots and the review of (re-) use of available standardized solutions.