The search is on for a medium-sized port to take part in a pilot project to establish an efficient digitalised system for electronic exchange of information in ports for ship clearance.
A call for expressions of interest from countries with a medium-sized port has been issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The "Single Window for Facilitation of Trade (SWiFT) Project" will develop a system in a pilot port to allow electronic submission, through one single portal, of all information required by various Government agencies when a ship calls at a port. This concept is known as the Maritime Single Window (MSW) system.
"Increased digitalization supports greater efficiency which benefits the ship, the port and wider supply chain," said Kitack Lim, IMO's Secretary-General. "We want to support countries in implementing the FAL Convention requirements for electronic data exchange, by supporting a pilot project which will show the way and result in know-how which can then be shared with others."
Singapore weighs in
The SWiFT project will be implemented by IMO in partnership with Singapore. Singapore will bring in its experience to cater to the technical requirements for medium-size ports and for ports that would like to incorporate port to port communication protocols in such a system.
Under the pilot project, the selected country will be advised on the necessary legal, policy and institutional requirements for the MSW system. The port will then be provided with functional MSW software, hardware and/or IT services, configured to the country's needs. Training will also be provided.
Tan Suan Jow, Dean of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Academy, commented: "Having successfully implemented digitalPORT@SG - our national MSW - , Singapore stands ready to do our part, and we look forward to partnering an IMO Member State on this meaningful journey."
The implementation of specific activities of the Pilot Project is expected to commence by 15 June 2021.
Building on experience
The aim is to replicate the pilot project in other IMO Member States in need of similar technical assistance.
The IMO-Singapore SWiFT Project builds upon a project, implemented in 2018-2019, that delivered a maritime single window system in Antigua and Barbuda.
Regulations in IMO's Facilitation Convention require electronic exchange of data, to ensure the efficient clearance of ships. The single window concept is recommended, in order to avoid duplication of effort.
