You are here

Home » Home » Latest News

Latest News

Printer-friendly versionPDF version

This page contains the latest items of news with regard to BICS and related topics such as new developments and/or new releases

 

BICS version 5.3.1 released (april 2017)

As of April 2017, a new version of BICS version 5 was released, with new functionality initiated by the users.

Obviously, if you have any questions about or need support for the new BICS version, you can also contact the BICS Helpdesk at any time, or consult the "Tips and frequently asked questions" page.

Important: If you are using version 5.2.1 for Mac OS-X (Apple), then you have to update (download & install) this new version 5.3.1 manually.
If you are using an older version, before 5.2.1, you must remove that version first, before installing the new BICS version 5.3.1.

Be aware: If you use a stowage application for the transport of containers? Please first contact the vendor of that application  (More background information can be found on the website of Bureau Telematics Inland: http://www.binnenvaart.org).

In conclusion, we hope that you will enjoy using the improvements in BICS version 5. 

On behalf of the BICS Functional Management department.
 

BICS old versions are phased out by July 1, 2015 (transition to BICS version 5)

As of 1 July 2015, the application to register your travel and cargo data electronically is BICS version 5. The old BICS (classic) versions are no longer supported as of this date and will be phased out. Your old account (9000 No.) will no longer work after that date. Therefore switch directly to the new BICS version 5 now. 

In order to use the new BICS versie 5 and in the future to be able to (continue) reporting electronically registrer at https://www.bics.nl. You will receive a new account (7000-number) and you can download the new BICS.

Be aware: Do you make use of a stowage application for the transport of containers? Please first contact the vendor of that application  (More background information can be found on the website of Bureau Telematics Inland: http://www.binnenvaart.org).
 

Update to BICS version 5.02 available (March 2015)

An update to the new BICS version 5.0.2 (including the latest ADN) was published and made available to users as of 23 March 2015 (see Download BICS). Existing  users are automatically alerted to the new update in the BICS application and can subsequently install it via BICS (see Using BICS => Installing BICS Update). The latest version of BICS is available to new users at all times via a download link on the Download page.

The latest BICS update contains a number improvements and modifications based on user feedback collected during the user tests that were performed in the recent past.
The following are the main improvements:

  • New user preference for entering goods: the user can configure the default type of goods setting in the goods input dialogue to hazardous or non-hazardous goods.
  • Selection of ship's body types when entering goods for barge combinations: BICS now always displays the barges indicated for the combination at the top of the selection list. As a result, users spend less time selecting the specific barge in which an item is being transported. In addition, the ship's body type is now also displayed in the ship's body selection lists.
  • More information available on the dashboard: additional information on the main BICS screen now make the various voyages (dossiers) more easily identifiable (this is particularly useful when working with a number of different vessels).
  • Simplified installation procedure: during initial installation, the user only has to populate two fields(user name, the 7000 number and password) for his/her messages service account.

These new features make the new BICS version suitable for the entire group of BICS users as a replacement for the old BICS version 4 or the ERI-Net application, which has now been phased out completely.

NB: The following also applies to this new version of BICS: BICS users who make use of a linked stowage application and wish to switch to the new BICS v5, will be approached separately depending on their supplier (more information is available on this subject via the website of Bureau Telematica Binnenvaart: http://www.binnenvaart.org). See also the news item below entitled "Switching to the new BICS version 5").

Obviously, if you have any questions about the new BICS version, you can also contact the  BICS Helpdesk  at any time, or consult the "Tips and frequently asked questions" page.

In conclusion, we hope that you will enjoy using the improvements in BICS version 5. 

On behalf of the BICS Functional Management department.

Switching to the new BICS version 5, phasing out the old BICS version 4 and ERI-Net (Jan 2015)

As stated above, a step-by step-approach has been chosen for the transition to the new BICS version 5 software. Rijkswaterstaat decided to have ERI-Net users make the transition first (see below). 

At the beginning of 2015, Rijkswaterstaat decided that all users can/may switch to the new software. In other words, anybody can submit an application  for the new BICS version and start to use it immediately. Note that this is  not yet  possible for BICS users that make use of a  stowage application. This group of users will be approached separately depending on their supplier (more information on this topic is available from Bureau Telematica Binnenvaart: http://www.binnenvaart.org).

Furthermore, the ERI-Net application will be  phased out  completely as of 31 March 2015 and cannot be accessed after that date. In the light of this, we kindly request you to make a back-up of all your ERI-Net data that you still require (please contact the BICS Helpdesk if you require support) and switch to the new BICS version.

Support for the old BICS version 4 application will be discontinued as of 1 July 2015. If you are still using this old BICS versionwe kindly request you to transfer to the new BICS version, which you can request via this website.

If you have any questions about the new BICS version, you can obviously contact the  BICS Helpdesk at any time, or consult the "Tips and frequently asked questions" page.

In conclusion, we hope that you will enjoy using the new BICS version. 

On behalf of the BICS Functional Management department.

Message communication to skippers via BICS (i.e. BOS messages) has been  phased out (Aug 2014)

Dear BICS user,

Rijkswaterstaat has extended or upgraded various parts of the RIS (River Information Services) package in recent years. As a result, some applications have been replaced or functionalities have been offered a different manner.

Distributing the Notices to Skippers and Water Level Reports via BICS has been discontinued as of 1 August 2014:
Until recently, you received the Notices to Skippers, commonly known as “BOS” messages, via BICS. A completely new version of BICS (version 5) will be made available during the last quarter of 2014; this service will no longer be offered in the new version. Due to unforeseen circumstances, support for this functionality is already no longer possible at the present time, meaning that you can no longer receive BOS messages via BICS from 1 August 2014.

Alternatives:
If you require a daily summary of the current Notices to Skippers, you can register on  www.vaarweginformatie.nl. You can view the current notices online via 'Actuele berichtgeving'. After registering (via ‘mijn vaarweginfo’) you can also subscribe to various information services, including the Notices to Skippers. This site is the portal for current information about waterway availability.

On behalf of the BICS Functional Management department.

New BICS version 5 supersedes BICS v4 and ERI-Net (Nov 2014)

Dear BICS and ERI-Net users,

We are delighted to announce that a completely  new version of BICS  is now available. BICS version 5 is the new, completely revised version of BICS, which supersedes all previous versions (BICS version 4 and older) and ERI-Net. This modernised computer program is the definitive model for electronic reporting via Internet technology . The new BICS version features a modern, improved user interface and is based on the latest international  RIS standards. The upgraded program obviously also ensures continued compliance with all  mandatory electronic reporting requirements.

The second generation of the BICS application (BICS version 5) is suitable for Windows en Linux platforms.  A step-by-step approach has been chosen for implementing the transition from the current BICS software to the new version. 

Switching over:
Rijkswaterstaat will personally contact current users in the near future (end of 2014, beginning of 2015) in order to initiate the transition to the new BICS version. Active users of ERI-Net will be invited to make the transition first .
Instructions on how to apply for BICS can be found on the page entitled  "Requesting BICS". This page describes all of the associated steps for this mandatory registration procedure. The page entitled "BICS on your PC?" briefly explains how to subsequently download and install BICS on your PC.

By introducing the new BICS conversion in phases and starting with a limited group (ERI-Net users), Rijkswaterstaat will be able to gather useful practical feedback and implement improvements before rolling out the program to the larger group of BICS users in 2015.

More information:
We advise you to keep up-to-date with reports on this topic via this BICS website or via www.binnenvaart.org, the website of Bureau Telematica Binnenvaart.

If you have any questions about the new BICS version, you can contact the  BICS Helpdesk at any time, or consult the "Tips and frequently asked questions" page.

In conclusion, we hope that you will enjoy using the new BICS version. 

On behalf of the BICS Functional Management department.

BICS Classic version 4.02.01 update (Jan 2014)

Comment: The new BICS version 5 software has now been made available (from the end of 2014) and we advise you to switch to the new version as quickly as possible (see  Requesting BICS)!

Older versions are no longer supported.

Some users are still using an older version of BICS, i.e. version v3.07, v.400.02, v4.01.00 or an even older version. When BICS 4.02.01 became available, it was decided that the Helpdesk would no longer offer support for these versions, which, in some cases, may cause problems when reporting to IVS90 (in the Netherlands) and MIB (in Germany). Consequently, we advise you to switch to the most recent version of BICS (see  Requesting BICS) as soon as possible.

You can always contact the BICS Helpdesk for any questions you may have about BICS.

Implementation of the new BICS version 5, which supersedes BICS and ERI-Net (Oct 2013)

The Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat) is currently working hard on developing a completely new (second) generation of the BICS electronic reporting application to replace the current BICS application and ERI-Net web variant.

The expectation is that this second-generation BICS application (BICS version 5), which will be able to run on Windows and Linux platforms, will be available from mid 2014. The roll-out of this new generation will result in a gradual phasing-out of the previous BICS v4.xx and older versions (including transmission of the (BOS) Notices to Skippers) and the ERI-Net web application

The old reporting applications (specifically ERI-Net, BICS and communication of the BOS Notices to Skippers) are expected to be phased out during 2015

Active users of ERI-Net and the current version of BICS in Windows are requested to keep a close eye on reports about the progress made in developing the second generation of BICS software (via this BICS website amongst other sources).

On behalf of the BICS Functional Management Department.

BICSmail (newsletter)

Various newsletters containing background information about the introduction of mandatory electronic reporting are listed below.

BICSmail #1, BICS News letter dated Sept 2007
BICSmail #2, BICS News letter dated Feb 2008
BICSmail #3, BICS News letter dated July 2008
BICSmail #4, BICS News letter dated Nov 2008  
BICSmail #5, BICS News letter dated May 2009
BICSmail #6, BICS News letter dated July 2009
BICSmail #7, BICS News letter dated Apr 2010

 

Copyright © Rijkswaterstaat (Disclaimer, Privacy Statement)