MCP
Maritime Connectivity Platform
MCP provides a trusted digital foundation for maritime connectivity, supporting safe navigation, efficient operations, and interoperable maritime services enabled by standardized identity, discovery, and messaging mechanisms.
Connect safely with people and navigation information you can trust, wherever you sail
MCP keeps you connected to people and trusted navigation information while you’re out on the water. No matter how you’re connected, essential information for safe sailing is always within reach. MCP takes care of the technology in the background, so you can relax and enjoy your time at sea.
Seamlessly connect with trusted users and official maritime services
Building on the same foundation, MCP provides a standardized means to connect navigators with trusted users and authorized maritime service providers. It supports the secure and consistent delivery of navigational information, independent of the underlying communication channel. By enabling interoperable digital connectivity, MCP contributes to safer and more efficient navigation.
A standardized platform enabling trusted connectivity across heterogeneous communication systems
At the system level, MCP establishes a common trust and identity foundation for maritime applications and services. Through standardized mechanisms for identity management, service discovery, and secure information exchange, MCP supports seamless interaction between ship and shore systems. This allows manufacturers to integrate services and messaging capabilities consistently, reducing integration complexity and remaining independent of underlying communication technologies.
Core Building Blocks of MCP
Maritime Identity Registry (MIR) — Identity
MIR provides PKI-based maritime identities and certificates, known as Maritime Resource Names (MRNs).
These trusted identities ensure that only verified organizations, vessels, and services participate in MCP-enabled communication.
Standard: IALA G1183
Maritime Service Registry (MSR) — Discovery
MSR functions as a “yellow pages” for maritime services.
It allows users to discover available services based on geographic area and metadata, enabling efficient and transparent service selection.
Standard: IALA G1191
Maritime Messaging Service (MMS) — Messaging
MMS delivers reliable store-and-forward messaging across both IP and non-IP communication links, including VDES.
This ensures that critical maritime data and messages are delivered securely, even in challenging connectivity environments.
Standard: RTCM 13900.0
How MCP Works in Practice
This workflow enables secure, interoperable, and scalable maritime communication.
Register
Organizations, entities, and services are registered with trusted identities (MRNs).
Discover
Services are found through MSR based on location and metadata.
Authenticate
Identities are verified before communication begins.
Exchange
Trusted messages and data are exchanged through MMS.
AIVeNautics & DMC’s Role in the MCP
AIVeNautics (AIVN), together with its Danish subsidiary Digital Maritime Consultancy (DMC), plays a leading role in both the international standardization and the practical realization of the Maritime Connectivity Platform (MCP).
AIVN and DMC are key contributors within the MCP Consortium (MCC), jointly leading and actively participating in core technical working groups, including the ID/Security & General Working Group and the Maritime Messaging Service (MMS) Working Group. Through these roles, they directly influence the technical architecture, security model, and interoperability principles of MCP.
Together, AIVN and DMC are uniquely positioned as the only organizations worldwide that collectively possess core technologies across all three MCP building blocks: MIR, MSR, and MMS.
This comprehensive technical coverage enables them to address MCP as an integrated and interoperable platform rather than a set of isolated components.
In addition, AIVN and DMC contribute to the global MCP community by providing open-source reference implementations of key MCP components and by actively promoting MCP adoption through international maritime forums, including IALA and CIRM.
Through their combined leadership in standards development, open implementation, and operational deployment, AIVeNautics and DMC help shape MCP from both a strategic standards perspective and a practical implementation perspective.