The national government has various statutory tasks in the North Sea. In order to properly carry out these tasks, the ministries and their implementing organizations need information about the use and condition of the North Sea. Developments in the North Sea are moving rapidly and the complexity is increasing. This creates a greater demand for information. The need for communication is also increasing. The disappearance of installation points for sensors and other communication equipment leaves gaps in the provision of information in the North Sea. This puts pressure on the information position and the performance of the central government's tasks in the North Sea.
Exploration of the information needs of the central government
The Implementation Programme for the Digital Transformation of the North Sea (UPDN) will tackle the digitalization task in the North Sea. This is done under the direction of the North Sea Interdepartmental Directors Consultation (IDON). As a first step, IDON has commissioned Rijkswaterstaat to conduct research into the information needs of the national government in the North Sea in the medium (2030-2040) and long term (after 2040).
Approach
We first asked the ministries and implementing organizations with a legal task in the North Sea what information they need to be able to (continue to) carry out their tasks in the North Sea. Based on an analysis of their needs, we have described the digitalization task in the North Sea in more detail. Then we made a so-called charcoal sketch. It sets out how the digital transformation of the North Sea could proceed, with targets for 2030 and 2040. Finally, we looked at which pilots and research projects are needed to enable large-scale rollout of digital infrastructure in the North Sea, and what current initiatives and projects can contribute to the digitalization of the North Sea.
Findings
The exploration shows that government tasks in the North Sea are in full development. Management based on information is becoming more important, as is (continuous) monitoring. Collaboration, coordination and communication are becoming increasingly intensive, in an increasingly larger work area. This requires better coverage and large-scale mobile connectivity. There is also a need for a better traffic image and more attention to maritime security. There is a need for pilots and research to identify, develop and roll out the optimal mix of IV resources with confidence.
Follow-up
The UPDN has not yet received any follow-up from IDON. Rijkswaterstaat is trying to make the best possible use of the findings of the exploration for the ongoing work on information provision in the North Sea.