SMDG Vessel Profile Workgroup – Mission Statement
The mission of the SMDG Vessel Profile Workgroup is to establish a secure, auditable, and industry‑standard method for sharing vessel data through a structured, digital vessel profile that serves as a single source of truth. This vessel profile will replace fragmented, ad‑hoc data exchanges such as PDFs, spreadsheets, and informal documents with a consistent, trusted, and interoperable data set.

The vessel profile will contain all information required for stowage planning and verification of a vessel’s load condition, including—but not limited to— Bay and stowage layout with stack weights, hatch covers, special stow positions, Hydrostatic and stability, Structural stress limitations, visibility constraints, lashing systems, draught and trim limits, Bonjean tables, Tank positions and capacities, General arrangement of the vessel. The approach will be flexible and extensible, allowing the inclusion of additional or bespoke requirements, such as heavy‑over‑light constraints or other vessel‑specific operational limits.

By enabling accurate, up‑to‑date, and traceable vessel data, the vessel profile will support safe, efficient, and compliant operations across the maritime supply chain. It is designed to meet the needs of terminals, planners, vessel owners, charterers, classification societies, CSM and CSA providers, and loading instrument software suppliers, fostering interoperability, reducing risk, and improving collaboration.

Ultimately, the SMDG Vessel Profile Workgroup aims to modernise vessel data management by providing a trusted digital foundation that enhances safety, operational efficiency, and regulatory confidence throughout the container shipping ecosystem.

Involved stakeholders are Vessel operators, terminals, ship design office, classification societies, and software vendors — building one standard that works for everyone.