A naval ship in the 21st Century will be faced with increased environmental regulations and sailor environmental burdens, while having to maintain mission readiness. In addition, the advancement of Pollution Prevention (P2) type technology will also help environmental efficiency, yet increase and complicate the overall environmental burden. Thus, the deployment of IS-EMS is focused on reducing the environmental burden through a series of functional modules designed to meet compliance and other goals. In addition, linkages to onboard sensors or alarms will allow the Afloat Environmental Protection Officer (AEPC)and others the ability to monitor the environmental situation. Meeting INSURV or self assessment type requirements on the environmental side will also be a priority. An architecture utilizing Palm/PDAtechnology coupled with server database development should allow IS-EMS maximum flexibility with respect to sailor usage, expansion and fleet deployment. IS-EMS will allow sailors to reduce their environmental work burden through a variety of means including providing an easy way for compliance tracking and paperwork production. IS-EMS will allow for better tracking of maintenance needs including assisting in the inspection process as well as assist in tracking personnel training needs and emergency related items. Commercial applications of IS-EMS clearly point to use by cruise lines who face similar yet sometimes different maritime environmental regulations. Additional users could include the merchant marine fleet worldwide.
