Issue standards on ship-to-shore data communication architecture

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issued ISO 18131:2025, which specifies the architecture for data communication between ships and shores using a publish-subscribe model. The standard establishes a unified technical framework, enhances connectivity, security and supports digital transformation in the maritime sector.

Based on the growing need for data exchange in the digital transformation era, ISO 18131:2025 was developed to establish a common technical structure for information transfer between on-board systems and shore-based management platforms. In the context of modern ships integrating many sensors, monitoring systems and IoT devices, the huge amount of operational data requires stable, secure and compatible transmission between different platforms.

The standard defines the roles of publishers, subscribers and brokers in the communication architecture; specifies message formats, client identifiers, topic naming structures as well as security requirements to ensure data integrity and availability. In addition, the data model and classification are built based on typical on-board device and sensor configurations, helping to increase synchronization when exchanging information between systems from multiple vendors.

ISO 18131:2025 also enables many-to-many connectivity through a topic-subscribe mechanism, supporting dynamic batch messaging, thereby expanding interoperability and data sharing across the entire maritime ecosystem.

ISO 18131:2025 was developed to establish a common technical structure for information transfer between shipboard systems and shore-based management platforms.

Notably, this standard also plays a role in linking existing international standards such as IEC 61162, ISO 19847, ISO 19848 or ISO 23807 (related to asynchronous data transmission), and is compatible with the set of standards in the IMO Compendium.

Establishing a unified framework between ships and shore contributes to the formation of a seamless maritime data ecosystem, enhancing connectivity and sharing capabilities to help ships and ports interact faster, more transparently and more easily managed.

In the trend of global digital transformation, ISO 18131:2025 opens up opportunities to improve the efficiency of smart fleet management. Operational data is transmitted to shore in real time or near real time, allowing remote management teams to monitor fuel consumption, equipment status, emissions or abnormalities during the journey, thereby reducing risks, optimizing costs and enhancing maritime safety.

Experts believe that ISO 18131:2025 will become an important technical foundation for future artificial intelligence and automation systems, because standardized data is a prerequisite for algorithms to operate accurately and sustainably.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/ban-hanh-tieu-chuan-ve-kien-truc-truyen-thong-du-lieu-giai-tau-va-bo-197251128092912262.htm