SBIR-STTR Award

Phase I will define the requirements and architecture of a shipboard environmental compliance information and tracking system that is web-enabled and supported by a shore side website for information aggregation and dissemination based on extensive prior experience with web and/or GIS-enabled technologies in an environmental analysis and documentation environment. The objective of this research project is to develop a software tool that will facilitate and enable the development and use of a functional Environmental Management System (EMS) for the management and assessment of the operating ship environmental responsibilities. The intended result of the Integrated Ship Environmental Management System (IS-EMS) is to improve ship environmental performance, provide current and updated environmental requirements and regulations, Navy policy, crewmember responsibilities, and reporting features to streamline shipboard environmental workload. The maritime industry is required to implement Safety Management Systems by the International Safety Management Code. These systems must include pollution prevention management, and are very similar to EMS. The maritime industry could benefit from an EMS capability. A Navy generated IS-EMS system would have great benefit to the commercial fleets and an even greater benefit to the environments of the states and ports involved. The potential for future applications of the software/website concepts developed during Phase I include expanded functionality for Navy use, adoption for other government and commercial fleets and cruise line industry, and adoption for the offshore oil industry.

The objective of the IS-EMS is to apply technology and environmental best practices to help DoD and industry attain and maintain full environmental compliance and address long-term challenges in the face of dwindling budgets and to do so at a cost savings. The goal of IS-EMS is to provide a comprehensive solution for identifying, prioritizing and facilitating the environmental requirements and responsibilities of naval ships at sea, and for providing improved ship to shore feedback capabilities for promoting continued improvement of Navy environmental initiatives. It is anticipated that the IS-EMS will assist dual-tasked shipboard personnel in managing the disparate environmental requirements that continually change as a ship moves from port to sea and throughout national and international geographic regions, and ultimately allow the Navy to sustain long-term, cost-effect environmental stewardship. Benefit Success in achieving Phase II IS-EMS objectives will result in the development and testing of a working IS-EMS prototype that demonstrates initial capabilities, and that provides a clear path for implementation and expansion of IS-EMS capabilities to other Navy platforms. Keywords Compliance., Environmental Management System (EMS), Regulations, Shipboard, Responsibilities