HHM: The SANTANA – SERVICE AND DATA NETWORK PORT OF HAMBURG project, funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), was brought to an end in mid-November with a major closing event. marketplace.hamburg is one of the outcomes. Can you tell me a little about what this is?

Evelyn Eggers: The marketplace lists all the services that are relevant to the port itself. Our first step was to include the digital services offered by the alliance and associate partners, so HPA, DAKOSY and the Hamburg Vessel Coordination Center (HVCC). Then we listed the port-related services from other partners once we had acquired some initial experience.

Phanthian Zuesongdham: Exactly. We hope that our marketplace will evolve into the portal for all digital port applications. Anyone looking to use a digital service at the Port of Hamburg should find what they need right here. Our ultimate goal moving forward is to map the complete supply chain at the port. Practically speaking, it visualises the network of networks.

HHM: Sounds like a very ambitious project. Who came up with the idea?

Evelyn Eggers: Phanthian Zuesongdham approached me. The idea of connecting the world of logistics with the world of infrastructure fascinated me, so we put our heads together and thought about how to proceed. We managed to recruit the terminal operator HHLA, Eurogate and the HVCC to provide support as associated partners. What emerged from this collaboration was an application to BMDV for the SANTANA project.

Phanthian Zuesongdham: We came up with the idea to create a network that would cover all relevant areas of the port in a digital form a long time ago. DAKOSY had already created physical and digital connectivity for logistics, but the network was lacking infrastructure, traffic management and digital accessibility at the time. First and foremost, the marketplace is initially the central hub for the Port of Hamburg. But there could be many of these marketplaces, all of them connected to each other. This would help us to elevate our digital services.

HHM: Let’s remain initially in Hamburg. What kind of applications can companies now access?

Evelyn Eggers: That really depends on the specific task. Companies can then select the relevant services. Our search options filter for specific criteria, such as industry, importer and carrier or transport direction, so either import or export. An importer would then use platforms such as our Import Management Platform – IMP services to obtain information on the status of their consignment. These details include progress in container unloading, the status of official approvals and whether the next customs process can begin. This will speed up the entire process of hinterland transport. But there are also low-level services such as quick container number checks.

Phanthian Zuesongdham: Let me emphasise once again that the application we have now launched only includes aspects that are relevant to port operations. We defined six measures we wanted to put into practice right at the start of the project.

HHM: What would they be in relation to the HPA as the port infrastructure operator?

„The development
and provisiong
of interfaces
is part of the
DNA at DAKOSY. "

Evelyn Eggers
from Dakosy Datenkommunikationssystem AG

„The marketplace is
initially the central
hub for
the Port
of Hamburg. "

Phanthian Zuesongdham
of the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA)

Phanthian Zuesongdham: We map the entire infrastructure and traffic management for all modalities apart from airspace. This enables us to provide applications that contribute to the port's road infrastructure as well as to water-side and rail transportation. If possible, we want to cover all of these areas going forward to improve precision in the planning of arrivals and departures for all modes of transport. So we have developed applications for four measures affecting all three modes of transport and are providing our data from the infrastructure and transport sectors for the other two measures.

HHM: A lot of the data will be relevant to security. Can you guarantee that it will not fall into the wrong hands?

Evelyn Eggers: DAKOSY is critical infrastructure. Security has therefore been one of our main concerns from day one. Before even starting to prepare the services and applications, we needed a detailed governance policy. It sets out all the bases and steps that a service must needs before being listed on our marketplace. Other compulsory measures include the aggregation and anonymisation of all information, to prevent anyone from learning the identities of parties involved in a transaction.

Phanthian Zuesongdham: Naturally, this applies to all traffic and infrastructure data as well. No one is allowed to learn even approximately which vehicles are present in the port area, for example. Among other things, our applications can use the anonymised data to provide information on the travel times in the individual road sections at the port. This means we can show current traffic conditions, so perhaps from Finkenwerder Ring to Köhlbrand Bridge. We import additional data from DAKOSY to make our calculations of the traffic conditions even more precise.

Evelyn Eggers: Thanks to the Truckgate slot booking system, for example, DAKOSY knows how many trucks are leaving a terminal. We anonymise this information and share it with the HPA via interfaces. This permits more precise analyses of the traffic situation.

Phanthian Zuesongdham: ... We are therefore able to make our recommendations for traffic light control more up-to-date and accurate, which ultimately leads to an improved flow of traffic.

HHM: Complex interfaces are needed for applications to share data. How did you solve this issue. Do you offer a wide variety?

Evelyn Eggers: The development and provision of interfaces is part of the DNA at DAKOSY. We have been non-discriminatory for decades and can cater to all formats such as XML, API or EDIFACT on the interface side. We always base what we do on the needs of our customers and roll out our services according to this principle.

Phanthian Zuesongdham: We are highly regulated in this area as a public institution and are required to comply with the legal provisions. This is often a very complex process. So we decided to define and provide an API, which stands for Application Programming Interface. This means that anyone wishing to receive data can simply use our API. Or they can use our web applications directly.

HHM: Does this mean that all applications are offered on the marketplace free of charge?

Evelyn Eggers: Not entirely. It depends, of course, on the requested service.

Phanthian Zuesongdham: As a public institution, we are sometimes even obliged to provide data without charge because the processes relate to a specific legal basis. We comply with this requirement, and it is state of the art to use digital services to accommodate these processes.

Evelyn Eggers: We have included detailed information about our applications on the marketplace. This information states exactly which applications attract a charge. Users are usually asked to register in advance.

Phanthian Zuesongdham: As soon as we open our marketplace to third parties, they will come with their own business models and offers. It is likely that most of them will be paid services