About FerryGateway

Make it easier, faster and cheaper for both agents and operators to reach each other through Digital standardization. Additional benefits are for example standard API:s to other systems like Booking.com, automatic production of GTFS Files, etc.

What FerryGateway is

The base is the FerryGateway Standard API which is Open Source and Free to use for direct connections.

For everyone who wants to work even more efficient, when connecting to more than one ferry operator or agent, you should use what we call the Switch. It is a technical hub that connects agents and operators to each other. The idea is to make it easier for both agents and operators to reach each other, i.e. only one connection point is required.

We encourage agents, operators and other travel organisations to become users and to download the FerryGateway standard package from this site. Don’t miss the opportunity to use the opportunities, even more attractive with the possibilities the Switch offers.

The communication standard between a ferry operator and travel agents to enable increased revenue to a broader audience.
A standardised set of messages that enables bookings, amendments and cancellations of ferry journeys including all products and services on-board.
An intellectual property of FerryGateway Association.
An open source standard, free to use, but controlled and supported by the Association.
FerryGateway replaces all other used standards.

Benefits

The benefits can be summarized by the following.

Improved image; the ferry industry can act with one voice and thereby create higher visibility on the travel market. By working together there are greater opportunities for increased business and this makes it possible to create strategic partnership or alliances with major players on the travel market.
Increased revenue; FerryGateway enables the ferry operators to sell a rich product range through agents. Hence it makes it possible for customers to pre-order the vast majority of the available services and products on-board.

Easy connectivity; one standard only makes it easier for agents and other partners to connect and brings lower distribution costs for ferry operators, agents and gateway providers. It also means a standardised way to connect to local or regional partners.
Standard controlled by the ferry industry; some of the power is turned over to the ferry industry instead of being at middlemen. It means that the interest and business of the ferry operators are drivers for development.

Background

The background to FerryGateway is that many Ferry companies experienced difficulties to reach out with their offerings to customers that are using different kinds of agent channels to search for ferry travel. The older standards like Unicorn have too many limitations and the standard has also been partly diluted throughout the years with dialects as a result. This has also ended up with many in-house built solutions that even more have increased the complexity and the cost for maintenance and development.

Another important factor is that the Ferry operators want to be in control over the standard rather than leaving that responsibility to middlemen or other organisations. It is also a fact that the Ferry industry needs to act more intensively as one Business thereby attracting major players in the travel market to cooperate and market the Ferry option as a true choice for leisure travel.

The development of the standard is driven by the members of the FerryGateway Association and their commercial and technical resources. FerryGateway is a commercial initiative with business objectives. It will of course have to be technically implemented in systems with Ferry operators, Gateway providers and Agents.

FerryGateway is the worldwide accepted and common standard in the market place.

What the Switch is

So what is required to use the Switch? You have to use FerryGateway as your standard protocol. You of course also have to have a commercial agreement between agent and operator, but also an agreement with the FerryGateway Association to use the Switch. The commercial terms and conditions to use the Switch will be presented to everyone interested.

The Switch is being maintained, operated and supported by totally independent resources and the security level is high.

The Switch saves costs for everyone by only having one standard that covers the needs of the ferry market plus only one connection point.

A technical hub system that constitutes the digital link between agents/partners and ferry operators.
An enabler of quick and easy one-point connection using the FerryGateway standard.
A possibility for every agent and operator that prefers simple, cheap and smooth links to each other.

Simplified view of the switch.

Support

When you use the FerryGateway Switch our support is automatically included. If you do not use the Switch we offer support agreement for the FerryGateway standard.