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Exploitation of the open source European union digital passenger locator form (EUdPLF) for maritime transport
1
Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
2
EU SHIPSAN Scientific Association, Larissa, Greece
Publication date: 2025-12-05
Popul. Med. 2025;7(Supplement 1):A23
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Passenger Locator Forms is an essential tool for implementing contact tracing in international travel. Digital passenger locator forms (dPLF) allows for rapid data collection and exchange between stakeholders, improving international contact tracing. In early 2020 the European Commission (EC) tasked the EU HEALTHY GATEWAYS joint action1 with developing a web application and database for collecting dPLFs for air, maritime and ground transport. In May 2024, the EUdPLF was transformed into an open source software (OSS) for deployment by Member States (MS)2.
Methods:
From 2020 to May 2024, a working group with nine MS, agencies and transport associations (EASA, EMSA, ECDC, IATA, ERA, CLIA EUROPE) was formed overseeing development. Key activities during operation included developing a minimum mandatory dataset, implementing data protection and security measures and interconnecting EUdPLF with the EC exchange platform. A new working group oversaw the OSS transformation involving the contractor, DG SANTE, DG DIGIT, and ECDC.
Results:
Five countries onboarded EUdPLF: four (MT, IT, SI, FR) during live operation (14 March 2021 - 31 May 2023) collecting 39731603 PLF from 51418147 passengers in all transport modes and one (DE) during stand-by mode of operation (June 2023-February 2024). The tool facilitated dPLF data collection from ferry and cruise passengers in three countries. The OS EUdPLF will be upload on the code.europa.eu. enabling MS to deploy national databases. EC has ensured interlinkage of national EUdPLF tools to Early Warning and Response System for automatic dPLF data exchange.
Conclusions:
Digitalizing PLF data significantly enhances efficiency and speed, with potential applications extending beyond contact tracing to integration with transport operator check-ins and vaccination databases. The deployment of national EUdPLF databases is essential for preparedness across all transport modes, particularly in the maritime sector, necessitating further agreement among EUMS to avoid administrative burdens and double data entry.
Passenger Locator Forms is an essential tool for implementing contact tracing in international travel. Digital passenger locator forms (dPLF) allows for rapid data collection and exchange between stakeholders, improving international contact tracing. In early 2020 the European Commission (EC) tasked the EU HEALTHY GATEWAYS joint action1 with developing a web application and database for collecting dPLFs for air, maritime and ground transport. In May 2024, the EUdPLF was transformed into an open source software (OSS) for deployment by Member States (MS)2.
Methods:
From 2020 to May 2024, a working group with nine MS, agencies and transport associations (EASA, EMSA, ECDC, IATA, ERA, CLIA EUROPE) was formed overseeing development. Key activities during operation included developing a minimum mandatory dataset, implementing data protection and security measures and interconnecting EUdPLF with the EC exchange platform. A new working group oversaw the OSS transformation involving the contractor, DG SANTE, DG DIGIT, and ECDC.
Results:
Five countries onboarded EUdPLF: four (MT, IT, SI, FR) during live operation (14 March 2021 - 31 May 2023) collecting 39731603 PLF from 51418147 passengers in all transport modes and one (DE) during stand-by mode of operation (June 2023-February 2024). The tool facilitated dPLF data collection from ferry and cruise passengers in three countries. The OS EUdPLF will be upload on the code.europa.eu. enabling MS to deploy national databases. EC has ensured interlinkage of national EUdPLF tools to Early Warning and Response System for automatic dPLF data exchange.
Conclusions:
Digitalizing PLF data significantly enhances efficiency and speed, with potential applications extending beyond contact tracing to integration with transport operator check-ins and vaccination databases. The deployment of national EUdPLF databases is essential for preparedness across all transport modes, particularly in the maritime sector, necessitating further agreement among EUMS to avoid administrative burdens and double data entry.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors wish to acknowledge the a) Working group members for the development of the centralized tool: EU HEALTHY GATEWAYS consortium and legal advisors; Directorate General for Health and Consumers (DG SANTE); Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE); European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC); European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); European Union Agency for Railways (ERA); European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA); World Health Organization (HQ/EURO); Transport industry (CLIA, IATA, UIC) b) Pilot testing countries: France, Italy and Slovenia pilot tested the air sector, Italy, Spain tested the ferry sector. c) countries implemented EUdPLF (France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Slovenia) d) working group members for the development of the Open Source tool: Directorate General for Health and Consumers (DG SANTE); Directorate-General for Digital Services (DG DIGIT), European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC); Christos Hadjichristodoulou (UTH-EL), Nick Bitsolas (UTH-EL), Elina Kostara (UTH-EL), Nikoloas Kokkotas (CYTECH Mobile), Themistoklis Dakanalis (CYTECH MOBILE), Christos Zanganas (Skopa-Zanganas and Associates).
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
None declared.
FUNDING
The EUdPLF was originally developed by the EU Healthy Gateways Joint Action and its development was funded by the European Commission pursuant to Grant Agreement no.801493 as part of the action entitled “Preparedness and action at points of entry – Healthy GateWays”. For a 30-month period (December 2021 - June 2024) the tool was managed by the University of Thessaly as part of a service contract “HaDEA/2021/HEALTH/0004” signed between the University and the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) acting under the mandate from the European Commission.
ETHICAL APPROVAL AND INFORMED CONSENT
Ethical approval and informed consent were not required for this study.
REFERENCES (2)
1.
EU Healthy Gateways. Joint Action Preparedness and Action at Points of Entry (Ports, Airports, and Ground Crossings). Accessed September 15, 2024. http://www.healthygateways.eu/
2.
European Comission. Signed contracts - EU4Health 2021 Annual Work Programme. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://hadea.ec.europa.eu/pro...
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