IMO

The requirement under the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL), requires Governments to use a single digital platform or “Maritime Single Window” to share and exchange information with ships when they call at ports, from 1 January 2024. This will streamline procedures to clear the arrival, stay and departure of ships and greatly enhance the efficiency of shipping worldwide.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said: “Digitalization is critical for greater efficiency in shipping. The Maritime Single Window delivers information between ships, ports and government agencies quickly, reliably and smoothly.”

More than 4.6 million port calls were recorded globally in 2022. Typically, ships spend at least one full day in port (more or less depending on the ship type). 

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In 2022, the IMO's Facilitation Committee adopted amendments to the Annex to the Facilitation (FAL) Convention which will make the single window for data exchange mandatory in ports around the world, marking a significant step in the acceleration of digitalization in shipping.  The amendments adopted by resolution FAL.14(46) on 13 May 2022 enter into force on 1 January 2024.

The amendments update the provisions of the FAL Convention on mandatory electronic data exchange in ports for ship clearance. The amendments to the annex of the FAL Convention will make it mandatory for public authorities to establish, maintain and use single window (SW) systems for the electronic exchange of information required on arrival, stay and departure of ships in ports. In addition, public authorities will have to combine or coordinate the electronic transmission of the data to ensure that information is submitted or provided only once and re-used to the maximum extent possible.

Guidelines for setting up a maritime single window (FAL.5/Circ.42/Rev.3) The single window environment as set out in the FAL Convention should be implemented based on these Guidelines.

The Guidelines offer guidance to public authorities or Administrations responsible for developing or modifying environments for a Maritime Single Window (MSW) and Contracting Governments that encourage the introduction of MSW environments to the public authorities, etc.

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The 9th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 9) was held from 20 to 29 September 2023. CCC 9 continued work on interim guidelines for use of ammonia and hydrogen as fuel, finalized amendments for the IGF Code, and discussed amendments to the IGC Code for gas carriers and the IMSBC and IMDG Codes on dangerous cargoes.

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What is the “maritime single window” and how is it implemented? A new free-to-access e-learning course has been launched on IMO’s e-learning platform to explain. From 1 January 2024, it will be mandatory under the FAL Convention for ports around the world to enable the provision of all the information required on ships’ arrival at a port, their stay and their departure to a "single window". The idea of a single-entry point is to avoid duplication in the submission of data, and to maximise the efficiency of maritime and port administrative procedures.

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