Overview
ISO 15849:2001 - Ships and marine technology: Guidelines for implementation of a fleet management system (FMS) network - provides a structured guide for shipowners, operators and system suppliers to select, design and implement computer-based fleet management services. The standard covers the architecture and services spanning shipboard and shore-based installations, including wide area networks, data transmission, common database facilities and application program interfaces (APIs). It explicitly excludes safety-critical control systems (e.g., navigation, radio) and environmental impact considerations.
Key topics and technical requirements
ISO 15849:2001 organizes practical guidance around these technical areas:
- FMS network architecture: recommended client/server, multi-vendor architecture connecting Shipboard Information Technology Platforms (SITP) and Land-based IT Platforms (LITP).
- Network design & management: wide area network (WAN) connectivity, land-based communications hubs and satellite gateways.
- Network security & encryption: principles for protecting data transmission and access control.
- Database model & DBMS: common database facilities and client/server database engines for shared ship operating and configuration information.
- Shipboard (SITP) and land-based (LITP) platforms: services to application programs, data acquisition, communications management and configuration services.
- APIs and application integration: API levels, interfaces and guidance to enable multi-vendor application interoperability.
- System hardware & communications bus: hardware considerations and LAN integration.
- Fault tolerance and robustness: guidance on system redundancy and continued operation under limited faults.
- Validation, testing and quality plan: verification/validation, black-box/white-box testing, demonstrations and acceptance criteria.
- Operation, maintenance, human interface, training and documentation: lifecycle support, VDUs, screen paging and user guidance.
Practical applications and users
ISO 15849:2001 is intended for:
- Shipowners and operators implementing fleet-wide data services for voyage management, maintenance planning, crewing records, cargo operations and shore support.
- Shipyards, designers and equipment suppliers specifying integrated shipboard IT systems and procurement contracts.
- Software and service providers developing FMS applications, APIs and DBMS solutions for maritime use.
Benefits include improved interoperability, standardized integration of shipboard and shore systems, better remote support and clearer acceptance/testing criteria.
Related standards
ISO 15849 references and complements other maritime and IT standards and vocabularies commonly used in shipping IT architectures (examples cited in the document: IEC, NMEA, STEP, ANSI, CCITT). Implementers should consider these when specifying interfaces, communications and data exchange formats.
Keywords: ISO 15849:2001, fleet management system, FMS network, SITP, LITP, maritime network security, DBMS, APIs, ships and marine technology.