During the Port Technology International Smart Digital Ports Conference held in May 2022, IPCSA chairman Hans Rook made a special presentation to Jérôme, in recognition of his work as chairman of the PROTECT group since 2015.

Jérôme recently stepped down as chairman, passing the baton on to Nico De Cauwer as chairman and Mees van der Wiel as general manager of PROTECT within IPCSA.

The PROTECT Group develops and supports the electronic reporting required by authorities for vessels entering or leaving a port or port area.  It maintains and develops EDI through the PROTECT Guide. 

Under Jérôme’s chairmanship, PROTECT went from strength to strength – adding XML messaging to the EDIFACT standard in response to European Directive 2010/65, building links with UN CEFACT, gaining recognition from the IMO FAL committee for message maintenance, working with UN CEFACT and the IMO on data modelling, collaborating with EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency), strengthening links with ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation) and working increasingly closely with IPCSA.

Cooperation and collaboration with IPCSA ultimately led to the two organizations merging, and then PROTECT being fully integrated into IPCSA at the beginning of 2021.

Hans Rook congratulated Jérôme for all his achievements in leading PROTECT.

Jérôme Besancenot said: “When I became chairman, it was supposed to be for two or three years! Chairing PROTECT has been an extremely busy and rewarding time, but following PROTECT’s full integration into IPCSA, it was time to revise the organization.

“We didn’t have a real manager or structure before – now we have a new, strong structure and a dynamic team, which will be very motivating for all members of PROTECT. For the moment, I will stay as vice-chairman, and I will also stay involved in the group.

“IPCSA and PROTECT are stronger together; we will all benefit from the common energy, as well as the similar ‘family feel’ of the two organizations.”

IPCSA announced in January that Mees van der Wiel of Portbase, Rotterdam, will be providing support to drive forward the IPCSA PROTECT group and assist ports in the journey towards standardization. In this, he will be building on the PROTECT Message Guide, including the IFTDGN, BERMAN, and WASDIS messages that have been widely used across Europe since they were developed.

Mees supports Nico De Cauwer of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the lead for IPCSA Standards and Technology activities who will be overseeing the work of PROTECT and coordinating its activities with other standards bodies.

About IPCSA

IPCSA is an international association of Sea and Air Port Community System operators, sea and airport authorities, and Single Window operators that is recognized across the globe for providing advice and guidance on the electronic exchange of information across borders and throughout the whole supply chain. 

The association has members from across the globe who handle the exchange of information for Business to Business, Government Business, and Government to Government processes and facilitate the smooth cross-border movement of goods. 

This equates to the electronic exchange of information relating to more than 500 million TEU movements and 10 billion tonnes of cargo for air, sea, and land transport – estimated to be in excess of 50 billion exchanges every year.

IPCSA focuses on supporting and facilitating systems and innovations for Port Community System members and users and promoting the use of international data standards in sea and airports, at border crossings, and via Single Window systems around the world.

IPCSA is a recognized NGO with consultative status at UNECOSOC and IMO.  IPCSA representatives are also on the International Chamber of Commerce Digital Standards Initiative in both the Industry Advisory Board and the Legal Reform Board.

The PROTECT Group develops and supports the electronic reporting required by authorities for vessels entering or leaving a port or port area.  It maintains and develops EDI through the PROTECT Guide.  PROTECT is now fully integrated into IPCSA.