Article
The digitization of the Kiel canal
The Kiel Canal is one of the busiest artificial maritime shipping routes in the world, connecting the North Sea with the Baltic Sea. Annually, about 12,000 recreational boats use the Kiel Canal. Until now, the shipping fees for these recreational boats were collected manually at the locks. The Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV), responsible for the Kiel Canal, has undertaken the task of simplifying and digitizing this process. For this reason, the project managers became aware of the ePayBL webshop, a product of the ePayBL developer community, in July 2022. At the same time, they commissioned the development service provider B3IT Systeme GmbH and Nortal AG to support the project.
Project Goals
Our goals aim to make a significant contribution to the modernization and optimization of the Kiel Canal to ensure smooth and safe navigation for all users. By the end of the first phase in spring 2023, we successfully integrated ePayment and provided modern payment methods to ensure quick availability. In the second phase, the following goals were achieved:
- Simplification and digitization of the process for collecting shipping fees for recreational boats
- Semi-automated controls
- Productive operation in the Federal IT Service Center (ITZBund)
Kiel Canal in International Comparison (Ships Annually)
27.000
Kiel Canal
20.000
Suez Canal
13.000
Panama Canal
AIS for the WSV Webshop
To achieve our goals of modernizing and optimizing the Kiel Canal, B3IT Systeme GmbH has made a significant contribution by integrating the Automatic Identification System (AIS) into the ePayBL webshop.
AIS is a ship tracking and detection system that enables the automatic exchange of nautical, voyage-related, and other ship data. This exchange of AIS data facilitates mutual communication between ships as well as between ships and land stations. The implementation of AIS ensures efficient and safe navigation on the Kiel Canal. This technological solution allows real-time tracking of ships and the exchange of information about their movements and activities.
Mathias Poock
Senior Consultant ePayment
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