A Markup Language for Maritime Systems: Advancing Data Interoperability

Abstract Data interoperability remains a significant challenge in the maritime industry on the path toward realizing trustworthy digitalization. Various solutions are being explored to enhance data exchange, including standardizing models like the ISO 10303 collection, using neutral formats such as Open Class 3D Exchange Format (OCX), and creating specialized Application Protocol Interfaces to improve data flow between CAD/CAE software for design verification. Despite these efforts, significant gaps remain in achieving data interoperability throughout a maritime system’s lifecycle, particularly in utilizing critical parameter data for design. Existing models can be excessively detailed or too narrow, limiting their practical use. This often leads to data fragmentation across databases, models, drawings, and specifications, and hinders integrated digital solutions in the maritime industry. This paper reviews the existing gaps in current solutions and outlines a proposal for expressing maritime systems data, particularly ship data, called Vessel Markup Language (VsML). This is designed to capture the necessary parameters to represent a vessel. It employs a geometry-first approach, integrating alphanumeric metadata that may not be captured in 3D models. The paper demonstrates the model’s framework and discusses a path towards advancing interoperability in ship design.