TOS Reference Architecture Research

Executive Summary

Eight industry sources were researched for reference architectures, data models, and standards applicable to terminal operating systems at a mixed RoRo terminal like CLdN Ports Zeebrugge. The findings reveal a fragmented landscape:

TIC4.0 is the only body actively publishing an open TOS/CHE data model, but it remains container-centric and gated behind member access
Navis N4 and Navis Master Terminal provide the most detailed publicly-known domain models; Master Terminal is directly relevant for RoRo/mixed cargo
Kalmar One is an automation layer (not a TOS) with open APIs and proven container automation; no RoRo modules
Tideworks Mainsail has an actual RoRo module and serves North American mixed-cargo terminals
PROTECT EU — no project with this exact name found; the EU port security project landscape (SAURON, PRECINCT, COLOSSUS) focuses on cyber-physical security, not TOS architecture
ISO 28000 is a security management system standard, not a domain model; ISO 28004-2 has specific seaport implementation guidance
PIANC WG 167 (2023) is the authoritative physical design reference for RoRo/RoPax terminals; no TOS/IT content
World Bank Port Reform Toolkit (3rd edition, 2025) covers digital transformation at governance level; Module 9 covers smart port concepts but not TOS domain models

Critical Gap: No open/published RoRo TOS reference architecture exists equivalent to TIC4.0 for containers. The RoRo domain model must be synthesized from Navis Master Terminal, Tideworks Mainsail, PIANC WG 167, and actual CLdN operations.

Source Relevance for Mixed RoRo Terminal

Source	Type	RoRo Rating	Key Value
TIC 4.0	Open Standard	Medium	Container-side semantic data model; Carrier Visit / Cargo Visit framework
Navis N4 / Master Terminal	Commercial TOS	High (MT)	Detailed RoRo deck model, VIN tracking, mixed cargo support
Kalmar One	Automation Middleware	Low	Container automation layer only; IEC 62443-4-1 certified
Tideworks Mainsail	Commercial TOS	High	Native RoRo module; production-proven at TOTE Alaska
EU Projects (SAURON/PRECINCT)	EU Research	Low (TOS) / High (Security)	Port cyber-physical security architecture
ISO 28000 Series	ISO Standard	Medium	Security management framework; ISO 28004-2 seaport guidance
PIANC WG 167	Design Guideline	High (ops context)	RoRo/RoPax terminal physical & operational design
World Bank Port Reform Toolkit	Governance Framework	Medium	Smart port maturity model; Module 9 digitalization

1. TIC 4.0 — Terminal Industry Committee 4.0

TIC4.0 is the only open industry initiative focused on defining a shared semantic framework for the cargo terminal industry. Brussels-based non-profit (founded 2019), 70+ member companies, 17 published releases (2021–2025).

Data Model Core

Carrier Visit
  → has many Cargo Visits
       → each Cargo Visit involves Movements
            → each Movement involves a CHE
                 → CHE executes Cycles
                      → Cycle contains Moves

Technology-agnostic: compatible with REST/JSON, SOAP/XML, OPC-UA, MQTT. PAS 4000 (BSI) formalization in progress.

CLdN Actionable: Use TIC4.0's Carrier Visit / Cargo Visit / Movement framework for the container side. Monitor for RoRo extensions.

2. Navis N4 / Master Terminal

Dominant container TOS globally (320+ deployments, now under Kaleris). Java-based metadata-driven platform.

Core Domain Entities

Layer	Key Entities
Facility	Complex, Facility, Yard (Block/Bay/Row/Tier), Berth
Operations	Vessel Visit, Unit, Unit Facility Visit, Equipment, Work Instruction
Planning	Vessel Bay Plan, Berth Assignment, Yard Strategy
Administrative	Booking, Service Event, Hold, Bill of Lading, Carrier
Gate	Gate Transaction, Truck Visit, Driver

Master Terminal — RoRo Extensions

Detailed RoRo deck definition with vehicle lanes, pillars, ramps, twistlock grids
Graphical deck visualization at all operational stages
VIN-based vehicle tracking
Cargo polygon areas for mixed deck layouts
Weight/height/stack limit enforcement per deck zone

CLdN Actionable: Master Terminal is architecturally the closest product for mixed RoRo. N4 patterns inform domain model even if not deployed.

3. Kalmar One Automation System

Not a TOS — automation middleware between TOS and physical equipment. Equipment-agnostic fleet management: ASC, ARTG, AGV, AutoTT, AutoStrad. First port solution certified IEC 62443-4-1 (OT/IT security).

CLdN Actionable: Relevant only for container automation side. SmartPort modules (SmartLane, SmartRead, SmartMap) useful even in semi-automated contexts.

4. Tideworks Mainsail

North American TOS (100+ marine and intermodal terminals). SaaS on AWS. One of the few TOS systems with a native, production-proven RoRo module.

Product Suite

Product	Function
Mainsail (core)	Container, RoRo, break-bulk terminal management
Mainsail Ro/Ro module	Rolling stock tracking & tracing, vehicle lifecycle
Spinnaker	Graphical vessel & yard planning
Traffic Control	Electronic equipment dispatch
Intermodal PRO	Rail terminal TOS

CLdN Actionable: TOTE Alaska deployments are closely analogous to CLdN's mixed RoRo operations. Limitation: primarily North American vendor.

5. EU Port Security Projects

No EU project named "PROTECT" found for port TOS architecture. Related projects focus on cyber-physical security:

SAURON (H2020, 2017–2020): Multi-dimensional situational awareness for port protection
PRECINCT (H2020, 2021–2023): Cyber-physical security for interconnected CI
COLOSSUS (Horizon Europe, ongoing): Digital security for port infrastructures

CLdN Actionable: Security architecture outputs from SAURON/PRECINCT inform NIS2 compliance design for TOS.

6. ISO 28000 Series

Security management system standard (Annex SL structure, like ISO 9001/27001). Key standard: ISO 28004-2:2014 for seaport operations implementation.

Port-specific risk and threat scenario identification
Confidence rating system (1–5 scale) for security plan conformance
ISO 28005: Electronic port clearance message formats

CLdN Actionable: Treat ISO 28004-2 as security requirements baseline for TOS gate management, dangerous goods, and access control.

7. PIANC WG 167 — RoRo/RoPax Terminal Design (2023)

Authoritative physical design reference. Covers ship approach, linkspan design, terminal layout, vehicle flow, marshalling areas, safety zones. Effectively defines functional requirements for a RoRo TOS module.

TOS Requirements Derived from PIANC

Vehicle lane dimensioning → yard position model needs lane-based layouts
Deck category definitions → vessel deck model needs these categories
Cargo segregation zones → zone management requirements
VIN/vehicle tracking flow → unit model requirements
Pre-embarkation checks → gate model requirements

CLdN Actionable: Use WG 167 + WG 213 (multipurpose terminals) as the physical/operational requirements basis.

8. World Bank Port Reform Toolkit (3rd Ed., 2025)

Module 9 covers digitalization and cybersecurity. Positions TOS as "the digital backbone of any terminal." Smart port maturity model (5 levels) and NIS2/IMO alignment.

CLdN Actionable: Module 9 provides board-level language for the TOS initiative. Maturity model useful for positioning current vs target state.

Cross-Cutting Synthesis

Common Entity Mapping Across Sources

Entity	TIC4.0	Navis N4	Tideworks
Ship visit	Carrier Visit	Vessel Visit	Vessel Visit
Cargo unit	Cargo Visit	Unit (Facility Visit)	Unit
Unit movement	Movement	Work Instruction	Work Order
Equipment	CHE	Equipment	Equipment
Position	Position	Block/Bay/Row/Tier	Yard Position
Gate transaction	—	Gate Transaction	Gate Transaction

RoRo-Specific Entities (Gap in Open Standards)

Entity	Source
Vehicle (VIN)	Master Terminal, Tideworks, GullsEye
Deck definition	Master Terminal, PIANC WG 167
Vehicle Lane	Master Terminal, PIANC WG 167
Ramp / Linkspan	PIANC WG 167
PDI Record	Master Terminal
Companion (driver)	—
Trailer manifest	Tideworks
Marshalling zone	PIANC WG 167

Container vs RoRo Differentiation

Dimension	Container TOS	RoRo TOS
Core cargo unit	ISO container (TEU/FEU)	Vehicle (VIN) or trailer
Position model	Block/Bay/Row/Tier (stack)	Lane/Row/Zone (flat parking)
Vessel model	Bay plan (grid)	Deck plan (lanes, zones, heights)
Key equipment	Crane, RTG, straddle	Shore ramp, tractor, reach stacker
Pre-processing	Seal check, weight, EDI	VIN scan, damage inspection (PDI)
Throughput metric	Crane moves per hour	Vehicles per hour over ramp

Architecture Recommendations for CLdN

Proposed Domain Model for Mixed RoRo TOS

FACILITY
  Berth (type: RoRo, Container, General)
  Quay Zone
  Yard Zone (type: Vehicle, Trailer, Container, Breakbulk)
    Lane (for vehicles)
    Block/Bay/Row (for containers)
  Gate (inbound/outbound)

CARRIER VISIT (= Vessel Call)
  Vessel (static definition)
  Voyage
  Berth Assignment
  Deck Plan
    Deck (with height, weight, ramp access)
    Vehicle Lane (per deck)
    Container Zone (per deck)
    General Cargo Zone (per deck)

CARGO UNIT
  Vehicle Unit (VIN, make, model, weight class)
    PDI Record
    Damage Report
  Container Unit (ISO, TEU/FEU, type)
    Reefer parameters
    IMO dangerous goods
  Trailer Unit (accompanied/unaccompanied)
    Cargo Manifest
  Breakbulk Unit (lot/commodity/piece)

MOVEMENT
  Work Order / Work Instruction
  Equipment Assignment
  Position (From → To)
  Timestamp / Execution Status

GATE TRANSACTION
  Truck Visit
  Driver
  Cargo Declaration
  Customs Status

BILLING
  Service Event
  Rate / Tariff
  Invoice

NIS2 and Cybersecurity Requirements

ISO 28000 + ISO 28004-2 for security management
IEC 62443 for OT/IT security (Kalmar One certified; TOS should follow same standard)
IMO MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3 for maritime cyber risk management
SAURON/PRECINCT project outputs for EU-specific port threat models

Standards Hierarchy

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
  ISO 28000 series       Security management (compliance)
  UN/EDIFACT             EDI messages (BAPLIE, COARRI, COPRAR)
  IMO FAL / MSC          Maritime operational standards

INDUSTRY STANDARDS
  TIC4.0                 Semantic data model for CHE and TOS
  PAS 4000 (BSI)         Forthcoming formal specification

PHYSICAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
  PIANC WG 167 (2023)    RoRo/RoPax terminal design
  PIANC WG 213 (2020)    Multipurpose terminals

GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORKS
  World Bank Toolkit     Module 9: Digitalization & cybersecurity

COMMERCIAL TOS
  Navis N4 / Master Terminal    Mixed/RoRo (Kaleris)
  Tideworks Mainsail            RoRo-capable (Blackstone)
  GullsEye                      Cloud RoRo+container
  OSCAR (TGI Maritime)          Container/RoRo

AUTOMATION MIDDLEWARE
  Kalmar One                    CHE automation (container)

Research conducted March 26, 2026. All source URLs verified via direct fetch. Full 875-line research document available as PDF download above.