The Sea Cargo Charter (SCC) has recently established a standardised schema for the exchange of emission-related voyage data, primarily to support data transfer between carriers and charterers. The move is designed to support quicker analysis and more informed operational and strategic decision-making across the shipping value chain.
Emission data exchange between carriers and charterers has long relied on spreadsheet templates, manual data scraping, and bespoke automations developed by individual companies. As the industry increasingly seeks to digitalise reporting processes, system-to-system data exchange has emerged as a clear opportunity to automate while improving speed and accuracy. However, implementing and scaling this type of exchange is difficult without a shared data standard.
The SCC’s new JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) schema enables better system-to-system communication across counterparties, reducing reliance on fragmented spreadsheet-based processes and improving data consistency and validation.
What is a JSON schema?
JSON is a lightweight data interchange format widely used across digital systems. Its flexibility allows data fields to be added or adapted over time, which will be useful as the SCC framework and reporting needs evolve. The schema defines both the overall structure of the message and the rules for each data field (such as allowed values and formats), helping ensure exchanged emissions data is accurate, consistent, and comparable across the industry.
In order to implement the schema, companies must perform an initial configuration or mapping within their own systems. Once in place, the same standardised message can be exchanged with other carriers and charterers, allowing data to flow directly into systems of record while significantly reducing manual intervention and duplication of effort.
Development of the schema
The new JSON schema was developed by the SCC Data Digitalisation Working Group, which includes signatories Dow, ADM, Stolt Tankers, Klaveness Combination Carriers, and Smart Freight Centre.
“When it comes to reporting and data validation, standardisation is the prerequisite to scalability and automation. By developing this JSON schema, SCC has made a significant advancement towards easier, more efficient, and more scalable emissions data transfer,” said Lance Nunez, Chair of the Sea Cargo Charter Data Digitalisation Working Group.
The working group created a supporting technical document to help signatories implement the schema across their data collection and reporting processes, which can be found here.
The Sea Cargo Charter’s existing Excel-based data collection templates, which have been used well beyond the membership, will remain available for parties unable to support the new process.