Introduction

In 1993, the Ministry of Maritime Transport (MTS currently) assigned the Maritime Research and Consultation Center (MRCC) affiliated to the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) to establish the first data bank within the MTS, connecting the headquarters to the Egyptian main ports (Alexandria, Port-Said, Damietta, Suez) and Ports and Lighthouses Administration (The Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety currently), with a view to provide planners, decision-makers and resaerchers from various maritime fields with accurate information on all activities of the Sector.

As from the operational date in July 1st 1996, and with a view to render EMDB one of the most highly technical tools, complying with the technological progress adopted by the Egyptian government, some major development phases were undertaken, including the transfer of EMDB applications to a modern environment, and the creation of Web Sites on the Internet. The upgrading projects were carried out to increase EMDB effectiveness, especially after expanding the scope of services provided to a large sector of beneficiaries through direct access to EMDB network, as well as the various periodicals issued, or throughout customer service as provided at EMDB main center.

With a view to render EMDB one of the most highly technical tools, complying with the technological progress adopted by the Egyptian government during the third millennium, three major developing phases were undertaken:

First Phase:

• Extending EMDB network to connect the Red Sea Ports (Safaga, Sharm El-Sheikh, Nuweiba, Port Tawfiq).
• Upgrading all EMDB hardware and software to cope with the technological development.

Second Phase:

• Applying latest tools of database technologies (Oracle 8i) to design, maintain, and develop EMDB databases using NT operating systems.
• Linking all MTS departments with EMDB network (through LAN) to enable electronic retrieval of information.
• Designing informative homepages concerning MTS and affiliated ports.
• Creating a Web Site on the Internet to publish EMDB periodicals.

Third development phase (2005):

• Enabling foreign bodies to access the EMDB databases, make use of the services provided.
• Upgrading the EMDB equipment, software and networks to cope with the technological development in the field of information and communication.
• Developing the EMDB systems using the Oracle10g technology features.
  

• Enable the maritime agencies and companies to direct input of their data into the central database.
• Securing the internal and external networks according to the latest techniques.

EMDB network consists of the main site (MTS), the subordinate sites on Egyptian Port Authorities, and the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety site. EMDB data are obtained from external and internal sources, as well as other data providers such: universities, institutes, libraries, research centers, different scientific entities, national and foreign data banks, and the official internet sites. Moreover, EMDB represents the MTS in various conferences, seminars, national and international exhibitions, as well as representing Egypt in the European Commission project MED-Trans concerning the Mediterranean and European countries (27 member countries).