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shipowners reduce the number of spares required on their ships and eliminates redundant data entry and related errors.

Communications expenses are dramatically reduced. Interfacing all of the systems in an enterprise makes it possible for "forms" — electronic structures that transmit only updated information to other computers in the enterprise — to be used. Utilizing forms with the advanced bundling and compres- sion techniques ISIT offers will reportedly save users up to 80 per- cent of their current communica- tions bills.

Fleet-wide integration is just the beginning. With a common IT platform and data structures, there is no limit to the potential for data exchange. Regulatory and class societies, vendors, ship- builders, shipowners, ship man- agers and ship officers can all have instant, controlled access to ship data. Services including

Inmarsat, MSAT/AMSC, Orbcom,

Odyssey, VHF/HF, cellular and

Iridium can be integrated.

ISIT's benefits extend into the

ISM and class society approval process. With common data for- mats, ships can provide inspectors with critical engine operating and maintenance data prior to inspec- tions, making it possible for inspectors to pre-evaluate the necessity of an inspection. The availability of such data can also alert inspectors as to which areas require further inspection, helping them to make the most of the brief inspection time, and improving the quality of the inspection and the safety of the world's fleets.

Industry Onboard

Since it's inception, interest in

ISIT has snowballed. MMS is leading the development team which is comprised of eight firms from the U.S., Canada and

Norway, which is responsible for the actual development of the ISIT platform and its roll-out and test in a shipboard environment.

A second committee, the

Industry Advisory Board, is com- prised of shipowners/operators, communications companies, ship- yards and regulatory/government organizations. This group of more than 30 organizations is responsi- ble for ensuring that ISIT ade- quately addresses the industry's problems and develops commer- cially viable solutions.

The Standards Committee, com- prised of more than 40 organiza- tions from 12 countries, has devel- oped industry consensus stan- dards in the area of shipboard data management and communications through the ASTM (U.S. National

Standards Group).

The first ISIT related standard,

The Standard Guide for the

Implementation of a Fleet

Management System Network (ASTM F1756), was approved by the standards organization ASTM in the last quarter of 1996. It has now been entered into the ISO process and has received the coun-

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