Maritime Connectivity Platform (MCP)

MCP (formerly known as the Maritime Cloud) is a communication framework enabling efficient, secure, reliable and seamless electronic information exchange between all authorized maritime stakeholders across available communication systems.

What is MCP?

See this short video for a presentation of MCP and how it can improve the maritime domain.

Or read the Conceptual Model description.

The Core Components of
MCP

The Identity Registry

For secure and reliable identity information, it provides a single login to all services, using identity information provided by trusted stakeholders.

The Service Registry

For registering, discovering and using all relevant e-Navigation and e-Maritime services, commercial and non-commercial, authorised and non-authorised, for free and against payment. It can be seen as a sophisticated yellow pages phone book or the equivalent of an App Store.

The Maritime Messaging Service

An information broker that intelligently exchanges information between communication systems connected to the cloud, taking into account the current geographical position and communication links available to the recipient.

All the core components are Open Source.

MCP Governance

The MCP is governed by the MCP consortium (MCC). The MCP consortium was established on 8th of February 2019. Press release for the establishment of the MCC can be found here.

The MCC governs the standards relating to MCP, including the MCP source code. The MCC operates a testbed for MCP (done by a member on behalf of the consortium), but does not operate an operational instance of the MCP. Rather, the MCC authorises other organisations to run operational instances of the MCP.

The consortium is established by the following non-profit organisations: OFFIS, Germany, KRISO, Republic of Korea, RISE, Sweden, University of Copenhagen, General Lighthouse Authorities of UK and Ireland. The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA), Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) and the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (MOF) are joining as Governmental Observers.

The terms of the consortium can be found in the consortium arrangement document, which can be found here.

All other relevant organisations (non-profit and for-profit) are invited to join the consortium.
Currently the following organisations have joined the consortium as regular members: DFDS…

The consortium has an advisory board with representatives from the following international associations: IALA, CIRM.

Technical Information

If you wish to dive into the technical information this is where you should start.

MCP Testbed

The MCC operates (through one of its members) an MCP testbed. Any relevant organisation is invited to join this testbed by applying through the management portal here.

Contact Information

To get more information, contact Thomas Christensen, the secretary general of the consortium.