ISO 28005-2:2021

Overview

ISO 28005-2:2021 - part of the Electronic Port Clearance (EPC) series - defines the core data elements used for electronic ship-to-shore exchanges during coastal transit and port calls. Rather than prescribing message structures or workflow rules, this standard provides a neutral data dictionary for safety-, security- and operation-related maritime information. It is designed to improve interoperability between ship systems, port authorities, coastal state administrations and port community systems.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Core data element definitions: standardized names, definitions and types for ship identity, cargo, crew and passenger lists, certificates, security data, ship particulars and vessel operation data (examples: ShipIDType, CargoDataType, CrewListType, EPCMessageHeaderType).
• XML/XSD guidance: use of XML namespaces, creation of main XML schema files, adapted XSD data types and templates for implementation.
• Data modeling rules: structure of data element descriptions, data type definitions, enumerated types, character set guidance, and rules for minOccurs/maxOccurs and empty tags.
• Compatibility and mapping: data elements are a superset of the IMO Reference Data Model (Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business) and include elements from other IMO instruments; mapping between ISO 28005-2 and the IMO Reference Data Model is provided (Annex B).
• Principles for interoperability: code set specification schema, prohibition of XML attributes for EPC data elements, and templates for creating message files with core data elements.

Practical applications and who uses it

ISO 28005-2 is intended for organizations building or operating digital ship/port information exchanges, including:

• Port and coastal state authorities (harbour masters, customs, border control, coast guard)
• Ship operators and ship agents (optimizing port call clearance)
• Maritime IT vendors and system integrators (port community systems, shipboard software)
• Maritime administrations and classification societies (policy alignment and certification)
• Logistics and terminal operators (automation of arrival/departure processes)

Typical use cases:

• Replacing paper-based clearance with automated EPC messages
• Standardizing data inputs for port community systems and shore-side services
• Enabling secure, consistent data exchange for safety, security and operational decisions

Related standards

• ISO 28005-1 - message formats and application profiles for EPC (complements Part 2)
• IMO Reference Data Model and IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business - mapped to ISO 28005-2 (see Annex B)

By adopting ISO 28005-2, maritime stakeholders can accelerate digitalization of port calls, reduce manual data re-entry, and enhance safety, security and efficiency through consistent, machine-readable EPC core data elements.