The Container Owners Association’s telematics interoperability standard nears completion

The Container Owners Association (COA), which is the international organisation representing the common interests of freight containers owners, is taking the unprecedented step of proposing an open data classification scheme for refrigerated containers and compatible wireless devices.

The aim is to permit interoperability of telematics device data from the various solution providers in the maritime shipping sector at the API (application programming interface) layer.

Through its Reefer Telematics Working Group – comprising IIoT representatives from Refrigeration Machinery Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) and Telematics Providers – the COA is currently finalising the development of an open standard Reefer Data Classification Scheme, supported by an open source Unified Data Model (UDM). Started as a proactive initiative of the COA members, this work to develop the UDM reflects the high level of collaboration among diverse industrial shareholders.

The key objective of the COA’s Reefer Telematics Working Group is to remove barriers to interoperability within the industry and to make it easier for data consumers to build value added services for their container operations. This is relevant, as it is estimated around 70 percent of all data integration activities today are spent validating, structuring, organising and cleaning data – a cumbersome burden that the UDM eliminates for the data consumers.

Starting with reefer data, the open standard will be extended to cover two-way communication – while it can also be extended to cover all container and transportation application types. The success of the Reefer Telematics Working Group will be achieved when it has enabled container owners and operators to decouple telematics devices from their IT investments. Enabling the industry to make independent decisions on devices – and Reefer Telematics UDM to improve interoperability – will reduce risk and provide a more competitive and innovative marketplace of solutions to be explored and deployed.

The Unified Data Model has already been proven with a ‘top five’ container shipping line over the last two years, with a full implementation of the model into their IT infrastructure.

Following a common structure, the Unified Data Model provisions for a higher level of data integrity and compliance regardless of device.

For more information visit www.containerownersassociation.com

5th October 2020