HKSAR Government Marine Department Dangerous Goods Manifest Submission by ebMS in Production

["Dorris Tai" <cwtai@cecid.hku.hk>]

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HKSAR Government Marine Department Dangerous Goods Manifest Submission
by ebMS in Production
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Hong Kong SAR, Peoples Republic of China –September 4, 2003 – Center
for E-Commerce Infrastructure Development (CECID), Department of
Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS), The University of
Hong Kong (HKU) is pleased to announce that Phase I of the XML
Dangerous Goods Manifest Submission project is completed. Marine
Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government has rolled out to
production its Dangerous Goods Manifest Submission system using the
open-source ebXML Message Service Handler implementation, Hermes.
Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) is the first shipping company
equipped to use this new submission channel. System development work
for another shipping company, APL, is underway and is expected to be
ready later this year.

Started as a pilot project in June 2002 by CECID, the ebMS electronic
submission system deploys ebXML technology to send and receive
dangerous goods (DG) manifests in XML format. The computer system in
OOCL can now generate DG manifests and send them to Marine Department’
s computer system over a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Information
re-typing and data entry errors are eliminated.  The new submission
system also improves the efficiency in information flow with the
capability of sharing of captured data.

Phase 2 of the project to enhance new features has begun. Enhanced
features will allow Marine Department’s computer to send DG manifest
receipt acknowledgements to the shipping company’s computer (i.e.
two-way transaction). Shipping companies will also be able to submit
manifest cancellation and amendment notices to Marine Department using
ebMS, in addition to the current telephone and fax modes.

In production use, this submission system deploys Hermes in its
document transport layer. Hermes is a Message Service Handler (MSH)
implementation that is in compliance with the OASIS ebXML Message
Service (ebMS) V2 Standard. The submission system exploits some of
Hermes’ features such as message packaging, reliable messaging, error
handling, RDBMS persistent storage, SOAP, and HTTP features, to
achieve reliability and security in the business document exchange
process.

About Marine Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government
(http://www.mardep.gov.hk):
The Port of Hong Kong has been one of the busiest container ports in
the world. It also remains one of the busiest in terms of vessel
arrivals and departures, and cargo and passenger throughput.
Being the administrator of the port, Marine Department’s principal
function is to ensure safe operation of the port and all Hong Kong
waters as well as the administration of the Hong Kong Shipping
Register. The Department’s mission is "to promote excellence in marine
services". Keeping in touch with the world through the Internet is one
of the many measures the Department has taken to achieve that goal.

About Orient Overseas Container Line
(http://www.oocl.com/main_flash.htm):
A public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, OOCL is one
of the world's largest integrated international container
transportation, logistics and terminal companies and, is one of Hong
Kong's most recognised global brands, providing customers with fully
integrated logistics and containerized transportation services, with a
network encompassing Asia, Europe, North America and Australasia. OOCL
is well respected in the industry with a reputation for providing
customer-focused solutions, a quality through excellence approach and
continual innovation. OOCL pioneered transportation coverage of China
and is an industry leader in information technology.

About APL (http://www.apl.com/index.html):
APL provides customers around the world with container transportation
services through a network combining high-quality intermodal
operations with state-of-the-art information technology. APL is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines, a
global transportation and logistics company engaged in shipping and
related businesses. APL has offices in more than 80 countries
worldwide. While shipping continues to be an important business, APL’s
business has expanded to assist retailers, manufacturers and other
customers to manage their own supply chains in whole or to manage
distinct and individual links of those supply chains, such as
shipping.

About CECID (http://www.cecid.hku.hk):
Established in January 2002, the Center for E-Commerce Infrastructure
Development (CECID) at the University of Hong Kong conducts e-commerce
research and development with the vision of helping organizations
increase their competitiveness in the global economy. CECID develops
e-commerce enabling technologies, participates in important
international e-commerce initiatives, supports e-commerce
standardization for Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific Region, and
transfers e-commerce technology and skills to the community. With
projects primarily funded by the Hong Kong Government’s Innovation and
Technology Commission, CECID is an active member of OASIS and the
ebXML Asia Committee. The Center also collaborates with a number of
lead technology users in the Asia-Pacific Region on turning R&D
results into real-life business applications. CECID’s recent
contributions to the community include its code donation of Hermes and
ebMail to FreebXML (http://www.freebxml.org) and the production of an
in-depth design and management guide on XML Schemas for the Hong Kong
Government.

About OASIS (http://www.oasis-open.org):
OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information
Standards) is a not-for-profit, global consortium that drives the
development, convergence and adoption of e-business standards. Members
themselves set the OASIS technical agenda, using a lightweight, open
process expressly designed to promote industry consensus and unite
disparate efforts. OASIS produces worldwide standards for security,
Web services, XML conformance, business transactions, electronic
publishing, topic maps and interoperability within and between
marketplaces.

PR Contacts for Press and Analysts:
Dorris Tai (cwtai@cecid.hku.hk)
Business Manager
Center for E-Commerce Infrastructure Development (CECID)
Dept. of Computer Science & Information Systems
The University of Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2859 2818
Fax: +852 2547 4611

URL: http://www.cecid.hku.hk