The Maritime Safety & Security Information System (MSSIS) is a freely-shared, unclassified, near real-time data collection and distribution network. Its member countries share data from Automatic Identification System (AIS), coastal radar, and other maritime-related systems. MSSIS combines the data from participating nations into a single data stream through secure Internet-based servers. Through MSSIS, participating governments can view real-time AIS data from around the world in a wide range of geographic display options, including text, photo overlays, electronic charts, and Google Earth. Displays can also integrate additional features such as user-provided radar overlays.

MSSIS Background

MSSIS was developed by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center at the U.S. Department of Transportation's

Research and Innovative Technology Administration The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) is a unit of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). It was created in 2005 to advance transportation science, technology, and analysis, as well as improve the coordi ...

and is available to nations worldwide to improve global maritime safety, security, commerce and environmental stewardship.

Benefits of MSSIS

The global sharing of AIS data among governments through a common, open exchange provides a solid foundation for and a path to greater international trust, cooperation and open dialog and thus, improved stability, security, trade, and environmental stewardship. MSSIS provides participating nations unprecedented access to global shipping information. Specific benefits of sharing AIS data via MSSIS include: * Feeding data to existing in-country maritime awareness systems & initiatives * Building regional Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) capabilities * Allowing the development of vessel safety statistics & analysis of vessel transits * Serving as the underlying feed for layering complementary data (radar pictures, oil spill monitoring, port operations etc.) MSSIS already serves as the data feed for many sophisticated applications benefiting seafarers and citizens of nations around the world.

MSSIS capabilities

The Volpe Center provides Transview (TV32), a Microsoft Windows-based application, to access the MSSIS network. Transview provides a means to view MSSIS data and can also serve as interface between the MSSIS network and other Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) systems a government might already be operating. Additional capabilities of TV32 include: * Vessel traffic management ( Vessel Traffic Service, situation displays etc.) * Canal transit management * Maritime de-confliction * Safety statistics (via data logging & playback, snapshot files) * Pilot navigation (ETA, closest point of approach, dead reckoning) * Accident investigation (via data logging and playback) * Buoy positioning * Oil spill modeling display * Harbor surveillance * Secure vessel transiting * Monitoring of territorial waters * Security zones - dynamic, static, user-defined * Secure data exchange

MSSIS Security

Because participants view the protection of vessel data from unauthorized use as crucial, MSSIS enables password-protected, Internet-based sharing of AIS data using encrypted data links (

TCP/IP The Internet protocol suite, commonly known as TCP/IP, is a framework for organizing the set of communication protocols used in the Internet and similar computer networks according to functional criteria. The foundational protocols in the suit ...

SSL Secure Socket Layer). * No processing, alteration, or storing occurs * Data is open source and freely shared among participating governments * Can be used by any system that uses standard format AIS data

Recognition and awards

MSSIS is a winner of the 200
Innovations in American Government Award
from th
Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation
at the

John F. Kennedy School of Government The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), officially the John F. Kennedy School of Government, is the school of public policy and government of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school offers master's degrees in public policy, public a ...

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...

for its efforts in enhancing levels of safety and economic stability in the global seas.

How Nations Become Participants

By contributing AIS data into MSSIS, a country becomes eligible to receive the AIS data from all nations participating in MSSIS. Technical assistance is available to any country with a willingness to participate. Transview (TV32), the MSSIS client software, is provided free-of-charge by the Volpe Center.MSSIS, from the Maritime Awareness Wiki (January 14, 2009) Accessed March 4, 2009 from Nations interested in learning more about MSSIS contact the interim MSSIS administrator, the U.S. Office of Global Maritime Situational Awareness, to arrange a visit by a technical assessment team. This team can demonstrate the benefits of MSSIS and discuss participation requirements.

Notes

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Resources

Transview (TV32) Installation and Operations Guide for Maritime Safety and Security Information System (MSSIS). U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center, Cambridge, MA, July 10, 2008
* The Office of Global Maritime Situational Awarenessbr>Maritime Awareness Wiki entry for MSSIS

The U.S. DOT Volpe Center MSSIS Web site

The Office of Global Maritime Situational Awareness official Web site

The Office of Global Maritime Situational Awareness Maritime Awareness Wiki
Maritime safety