[2. Management, operation, development and maintenance U.K.
2.1. Responsibilities U.K.
2.1.1. National SafeSeaNet systems U.K.
Member States shall establish and maintain a national SafeSeaNet system allowing for the exchange of maritime information between authorised users under the responsibility of a national competent authority (NCA).
The NCA shall be responsible for the management of the national system, which shall include the national coordination of data users and data providers as well as ensuring that UN LOCODES are designated and that the necessary national IT infrastructure and the procedures described in the interface and functionalities control document referred to in point 2.3 are established and maintained.
The national SafeSeaNet system shall enable the inter-connection of users authorised under the responsibility of an NCA and may be made accessible to identified shipping actors (shipowners, agents, masters, shippers and others) when authorised by the NCA, in particular in order to facilitate the electronic submission and reception of reports in accordance with Union legislation.
2.1.2. Central SafeSeaNet system U.K.
The Commission is responsible for the management and development at policy level of the central SafeSeaNet system and for the oversight of the SafeSeaNet system, in cooperation with Member States, while, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council () , the European Maritime Safety Agency, in cooperation with the Member States and the Commission, is responsible for:
the technical implementation and documentation of SafeSeaNet,
development, operation and integration of the electronic messages and data as well as maintenance of the interfaces with the central SafeSeaNet system, including AIS data collected by satellite, and the different information systems in this Directive and as referred to in point 3.
The central SafeSeaNet system, acting as a nodal point, shall interconnect all national SafeSeaNet systems and shall establish the necessary IT infrastructure and procedures as described in the interface and functionalities control document referred to in point 2.3.
2.2. Principles of management U.K.
The Commission shall establish a high-level steering group, which shall adopt its rules of procedure, composed of representatives of the Member States and of the Commission to:
make recommendations to improve the effectiveness and security of the system,
provide appropriate guidance for the development of the system,
assist the Commission in reviewing the performance of the system,
provide appropriate guidance for the development of the interoperable data exchange platform combining information from SafeSeaNet with information from the other information systems as referred to in point 3,
approve the interface and functionalities control document referred to in point 2.3, and any amendments thereto,
adopt guidelines for the collection and distribution of information through SafeSeaNet related to competent authorities designated by Member States to perform relevant functions under this Directive,
liaise with other relevant working forums, in particular the group on maritime administrative simplification and electronic information services.
2.3. Interface and functionalities control document and technical documentation U.K.
The Commission shall develop and maintain, in close cooperation with the Member States, an interface and functionalities control document (IFCD).
The IFCD shall describe in detail the performance requirements and procedures applicable to the national and central elements of the SafeSeaNet system designed to ensure compliance with the relevant Union legislation.
The IFCD shall include rules for:
access rights guidance for data quality management,
integration of data, as referred to in point 3, and their distribution through the SafeSeaNet system,
operational procedures for the Agency and the Member States defining the control mechanisms for the SafeSeaNet data quality,
security specifications for data transmission and exchange, and
the archiving of information at national and central level.
The IFCD shall indicate the means of storage and the availability of the information on dangerous or polluting goods concerning scheduled services to which an exemption has been granted in accordance with Article 15.
Technical documentation related to SafeSeaNet, such as standards for data exchange format, interoperability with other systems and applications, users' manuals, network security specifications and reference databases used to support reporting obligations, shall be developed and maintained by the Agency in cooperation with the Member States.]