NELSON

The project aims to introduce a harmonized and internationally standardized environment for information exchange between ships and shore. The project includes both studies and investments in Finland, Sweden and Spain.

The new solutions will use data, new technologies and automated solutions to improve maritime safety, efficiency and reliability, while reducing climate and environmental impacts.

Remote pilotage is being used to test and validate the solutions developed within the project, but the services developed are intended to be available to all commercial vessels.

Work Packages and Scope of Application

The project work has been divided into six work packages. The first (WP1) focuses on project management, coordination of the work, and communication and engagement activities. The other five work packages are:

• Development of VDES Infrastructure (WP2)
  The project includes a radio coverage analysis and an installation plan for VDES (VHF Data Exchange System). VDES is part of the maritime communication system designed to improve communication between ships and coastal areas. The system combines VHF radio communication and AIS data transmission to enable versatile data exchange. The NELSON project will equip selected sea areas in Finland and Swedish territorial waters with VDES base stations to support the needs of remote pilotage trials.
  
  
• Development of Remote Pilotage (WP3)
  The project will define procedures and technical requirements for remote pilotage and develop new technical solutions. Remote pilotage will be introduced in both Finland and Sweden, with two remote pilotage stations in each country. In accordance with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) methodology, a risk and cost-benefit analysis of remote pilotage will be carried out.
  
  
• Digital Maritime Services in Finland and Sweden (WP4)
  The project will establish a service platform for digital information services in traffic management. It will include an internationally standardized ship route exchange service integrated with Vessel Traffic Services (VTS). Observation data from wave buoys will be converted into a format compatible with Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).
  
  Mandatory Ship Reporting Systems (MSR) will be upgraded to make use of the Maritime Single Window reporting portal and the European Maritime Safety Agency’s (EMSA) Integrated Reports Distribution (IRD) service. The aim is to reduce the reporting burden on vessels.
  
  Situational awareness between VTS systems and ports in connection with port calls will also be improved by using data from the European Maritime Single Window environment (EMSW). Integrating this data into e-navigation services, VTMIS systems and Port Community Systems (PCS) will improve interoperability between relevant stakeholders and enable more efficient management of port calls.
  
  
• Testing and Validation (WP5)
  The developed solutions, services and infrastructure will be tested and validated using actual vessels. The necessary equipment will be installed on test vessels according to navigational and testing requirements. E-navigation services will be tested while VTS and vessels are operating under normal conditions. Remote pilotage will be demonstrated during selected test vessel voyages. A maintenance plan and roadmap will be developed for the smart fairway services created within the project. A cybersecurity assessment will be carried out for the data exchange platform, the route exchange service and the remote pilotage solution. All services will undergo a cybersecurity review before being put into operation.
  
  
• Digital Maritime Services in Spain (WP6)
  The project will also establish a service platform for digital information services in traffic management in Spain. Services developed on this platform will include a port call service, a vessel traffic management service and a ship route exchange service integrated with VTS. Spain’s mandatory ship reporting systems (MRS) will be harmonized with the national maritime data management system to simplify vessel reporting requirements. New software will also be developed to systematically assess compliance with maritime safety legislation. In addition, a decision-support tool will be developed to assist VTS operators.
  
  The digital information exchange solutions will be tested and validated both in the Canary Islands and on the Spanish mainland.

Coordinator and Partners

• Fintraffic Vessel Traffic Services Ltd, Finland (Coordinator)
• Swedish Maritime Administration, Sweden
• Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finland
• Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd, Finland
• Hiades Business Patterns, S.L., Spain
• Aalto University, Finland
• Advian Software Oy, Finland
• Brighthouse Intelligence Oy, Finland
• Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
• Port Authority of Huelva, Spain

Fintraffic is the lead coordinator of NELSON and is also responsible for implementing work packages WP1, WP2, WP4 and WP5 in cooperation with the project partners. Finnpilot is responsible for WP3, while Hiades Business Patterns is responsible for WP6.