ISO publishes new standard for ship–shore data communication

ISO has released ISO 18131:2025, a new standard that defines the architectural requirements for ship-shore data communication within a publish–subscribe framework.

As explained, the standard supports the increasing use of real-time operational data and establishes a common structure to improve interoperability between onboard and shore-based systems. ISO 18131 outlines the functions and interactions of publishers, subscribers, and brokers and provides specifications for message formats, client identifiers and topic naming conventions.

Furthermore, it details the security measures necessary to maintain data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The data model and taxonomy were developed to mirror typical shipboard equipment and sensor setups, ensuring consistent data exchange across systems from different suppliers. By enabling many-to-many communication through registered topics, the standard supports dynamic, batch-based messaging suited to diverse operational needs.

Building on previous work related to navigational interfaces and shipboard data servers, the new standard seeks to introduce a more adaptable communication architecture. The flexibility is intended to accommodate a broader range of operational and regulatory data as digitalisation in shipping, port operations and logistics continues to advance.

source : safety4sea