Report from IMO FAL 47: MSW implementation

Last week, the 47th meeting of the IMO’s Facilitation Committee (FAL 47) took place which held further discussions on the implementation of the Maritime Single Window (MSW). IAPH had two joint submissions on this item, including a document submitted together with BIMCO inviting the Committee to note the outcomes of the joint IMO-BIMCO-IAPH Maritime Single Window symposium that was held on 18 and 19 January this year.

IAPH introduced the paper to plenary and the outcomes were noted by the Committee and referenced in the final report. Furthermore, IAPH together with numerous Member States and the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA), submitted a proposal for a FAL resolution outlining the available resources relevant to the effective implementation of an MSW to assist Member States in fulfilling their regulatory requirements.

There was general support for such a resolution which the Committee noted, and the revised draft was adopted. In response to a proposal made by China, the Committee also agreed to further amendments to the IMO’s MSW Guidelines to include in the single window system a function to provide feedback on port logistics information to the shipping industry. This document also encourages the reuse of available data via a MSW to improve efficiency. This amendment was agreed by the Committee, although delegations emphasised that such a feedback function should remain voluntary in nature. Finally, the parallel Working Group on Electronic Business finalised the Guidelines for harmonised communication and electronic exchange of operational data for port calls and prepared terms of reference for the re-establishment of the Correspondence Group to finalise the Guidelines on Port Community Systems for approval at FAL 48, which will be held from 8 to 12 April next year.
Source: IAPH