{mprestriction ids="1,2"}The test consisted of a simulation of how MCP could assist a non-Korean ship docking in Busan, creating a scenario where a ship with no local knowledge of the port could still be able to identify itself, get access to digital communications, and choose from a couple of test services provided by South Korea and found using MCP’s Maritime Service Registry.

“It functioned exactly the way we wanted it, which is never certain in live tests. Our simulation included a ship registered as Danish and the communication from shore to ship was done digitally exploiting different aspects of MCP,” said Thomas Christensen, work package leader in EfficienSea2 and senior advisor at the Danish Maritime Authority.

MCP is divided into three main parts; an Identity Register, a Service Register and a Messaging Service. The first two parts are being developed and tested in Europe, while South Korea is working on the Messaging Service, which aims to allow ships to receive data independently from their data connection at any given time.

Previously, individual aspects of MCP have been tested on board ships in European waters, but the addition of the newly developed Messaging Service meant that this latest test in Korea marked the first time all three aspects of the envisioned service were assessed at the same time.

The tests also marked the first time MCP has connected using the LTE-M (long-range 4G) service that South Korean Authorities are planning to provide off the coast of South Korea in the near future.

“The individual components of MCP have a value in themselves and could easily prove beneficial standing alone. The value is multiplied many times, however, if those components are combined into one platform, and the Korean sea trials proved that we are well on the way to finishing such a platform,” said Mr Christensen.{/mprestriction}