3.1 Intended Use—Compliance with this guide will allow the sharing of electronic data between contracting parties that is normally done by hard copy. This can only be used when both parties use a database-derived software package to manage their contracts. Specifically, it will:

1.1 This guide provides the database structure of electronic data interchange (EDI) information between ship owner and a shipyard for contract administration. Ship owners (hereinafter referred to as owners) and shipyards may each have unique software programs to manage their respective portions of a ship repair period. There is information that must be exchanged between the parties during the contract period. This guide has been developed to establish common field lengths, names, and types such that the exchanged information can be used directly by the respective software programs without scanning, typing, or redundant keying of information.