The Maritime Connectivity Platform (MCP) was prominently featured during the 12th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR 12), held in London. Two key events—the IMO/IHO Workshop on S-100 Implementation (12 May) and the Presentation on Global IP-based Connectivity for S-100 ECDIS (13 May)—highlighted MCP’s role in enabling real-time, secure digital communication at sea.

At the workshop, Dr. Julius Moeller (AMSA) introduced a global connectivity framework based on the SECOM protocol to support real-time exchange of S-100 products like Navigational Warnings (S-124) and Route Plan Exchange (S-421). Mr. Juho Pitkänen (Secretary-General of MCP Consortium) presented MCP as a critical infrastructure for maritime digitalisation, offering authentication, service discovery, and message exchange capabilities—supporting both current and future e-Navigation and MASS operations.

On 13 May, a live demonstration co-hosted by Australia and the Republic of Korea showcased MCP in action. The technical demonstration featured:

• S-124 service discovery and subscription via the MCP Maritime Service Registry (MSR), enabling real-time integration into ECDIS;
• Bidirectional route exchange (S-421) between shipboard ECDIS and VTS.

The demonstration drew strong interest from over 100 delegates and illustrated how MCP provides secure identity management (using Maritime Resource Names), supports real-time updates, and resilient IP-based communication infrastructure. As discussions continue within IMO on establishing a framework for global S-100 data distribution and connectivity, MCP and SECOM are positioned as a practical and scalable solution. The initiative is now recognised as a key enabler of maritime digitalisation, supporting IMO’s strategic vision for safe, standardised, and connected maritime operations.