Data is often conflated with facts, but the two terms have distinctly different meanings. While data can encompass factual information, it more broadly refers to any quantitative or qualitative observations, figures, statistics, opinions, estimates or other representations that have not necessarily been proven or contextualised into factual knowledge.
For raw data to transform into factual evidence, it requires valid analysis, vetting and placement into an appropriate frame of reference. On its own, data provides little meaning or value. It only becomes valuable when data sets are interpreted, validated and applied to answer specific questions or derive insights.
The legal treatment of data is highly dependent on its nature and intended use case. Data sets related to personal finances, location, biometrics, demographics and behaviours are subject to privacy laws restricting access and setting standards for security and consent. Other types of operational, technical or environmental data generally do not have the same protections or restrictions unless they ultimately expose the privacy of individuals.
Within industry, data is commonly differentiated based on its role and life cycle. According to the ISO 8000 data quality framework, master data contains relatively stable core business information related to customers, suppliers, products, assets and other domains most critical for operations. Transactional data captures event-specific details that frequently change, such as order numbers, shipping dates, reimbursement amounts and inventory quantities.
Much of the data increasingly shared through maritime logistics business networks consists of technical measurements, machine parameters, system logs and other operational data streams related to cargo, assets and processes, but not directly to personal identities. Various shipboard systems and shore-based infrastructure automatically generate this data.
For better clarity, technical data shared between maritime platforms and partners can be further categorised into three subtypes:
- Raw data refers to the unmodified information streaming directly from devices and equipment before filtering, aggregation or processing. This data resembles binaries or codes.
- Pre-processed data, like cleaning and formatting, has undergone initial preparation to remove noise and duplicates. It has been made analysis-ready.
- Derived data has been manipulated through various analytical techniques to produce intelligence, like sensor binary converted into temperature readings.
Properly defining data across these subcategories provides helpful nuance for maritime data ownership, privacy and security discussions. While purely technical data raises fewer ethical concerns, some data sharing scenarios can still have complex legal and proprietary implications depending on factors like depth of processing and end-use context. Establishing clear definitions upfront enables more informed data governance policies.
Data governance and ethics in the maritime industry continue to evolve. As ships generate more operational data through onboard systems and as analytics reveal deeper insights hidden within that data, maritime companies need clear policies and frameworks to handle emerging privacy, security and proprietary concerns. Categorising data into raw, pre-processed, and derived subtypes can help create nuanced governance models attuned to differential data sensitivity across the development pipeline.
But even purely technical data, when shared through new digitised logistics networks, can raise complex legal questions depending on end-use case and depth of processing. Keeping data’s nature and intended use at the fore can enable more informed governance. Ultimately, resilient data policies arise through cross-industry collaboration, uniting perspectives across operators, solution providers, regulators and technical experts from ship to shore.For a more in depth understanding of the topics covered in this article, refer to our latest report titled ‘Common Interests; How the maritime industry can share data, collaborate with trust, and build a mutually beneficial digital ecosystem.’ This comprehensive guide benchmarks shipping’s progress on using digital solutions to collaborate on decarbonisation goals and shows how industry frontrunners are breaking down the technical, legal, financial and cultural barriers.
