Overview
ISO 28005-3:2024 - Ships and marine technology - Electronic port clearance (EPC) - Part 3: Data elements for ship and port operation - specifies the core data elements used for electronic port clearance (EPC) message content. The standard focuses on operational ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship information exchanges that support coastal transit and port calls. It defines the semantic content (what information to exchange) - not the message structure or formats, which are covered in ISO 28005-1. ISO 28005-3 aims to improve the safety, security and efficiency of maritime information exchange.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Core data elements for EPC messages: standard definitions for ship identity, ship particulars, cargo descriptions, crew and passenger details, certificates, and verified gross mass.
- Vessel operation data: ship status, voyage events, waypoints, pilot boarding places, weather observations and other operational parameters.
- Environmental and compliance data: ballast water reporting, waste and disposal requirements, health information, inspection results, and detentions.
- Maritime services and inspections: data types for service requests, inspection records, deficiencies, and banned-ship indicators.
- Contact and communication types: standardized contact info, communication numbers and language identifiers to support reliable ship-to-shore exchange.
- Normative mappings: relation to the IMO Compendium and a normative mapping to IMO FAL reporting (Annex A), enabling interoperability with international reporting requirements.
- Clarification: ISO 28005-3 does not define message structures or transport; it provides the canonical data elements and types. Message formats and implementation profiles are in ISO 28005-1 and ISO 28005-2.
Applications and who uses it
ISO 28005-3 is practical for organizations implementing maritime digitalization and EPC systems:
- Port authorities and terminal operators standardizing electronic arrival/clearance processes.
- Shipowners, operators and ship agents preparing standardized EPC message content for port calls.
- Maritime software vendors and system integrators building ship-to-shore messaging platforms, port community systems, or VTS integrations.
- Regulatory bodies and inspectors aligning electronic reporting requirements with IMO FAL and national regulations.
Practical benefits include reduced paperwork, faster port clearance, improved situational awareness, and consistent data for safety, security and environmental compliance.
Related standards
- ISO 28005-1 - Message formats and application protocols for EPC (see for message structuring).
- ISO 28005-2 - Data types referenced and extended by Part 3.
- IMO Compendium and IMO FAL - Mapped via Annex A of ISO 28005-3 to support international reporting alignment.
Keywords: ISO 28005-3:2024, electronic port clearance, EPC, data elements, ship-to-shore, maritime data exchange, ship and port operation, port calls, maritime standards.
Open preview (PDF)Ships and marine technology — Electronic port clearance (EPC) — Part 3: Data elements for ship and port operation
