PCS report unveiled at IAPH conference

The edition offers port communities a step-by-step guide to implementing a PCS and explains its advantages for developing countries.

The report is a direct action following on from last year’s World Bank IAPH summary report ‘Closing the Gaps – key actions in digitalization, decarbonization and resilience the maritime sector’, and is aimed precisely at reducing the digital divide, with practical advice combined with concrete case studies of implementation in a diverse range of countries.

The publication describes how port community systems have improved port operations around the world, from both high and low-adoption rate regions. It provides insights for policymakers, port authorities, and logistics providers on how to enhance PCS adoption and leverage its benefits.

The study also clearly identifies where the gaps are in adoption, by examining PCS implementation in over 897 ports based on UNCTAD’s top ports listed in the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (2022:Q4) covering 201 countries and territories.

Income discrepancy

Sebastien Dessus, manager of the Global Trade and Regional Integration Unit of the World Bank, commented: “Over 90 per cent of the ports in low- and middle-income countries have not yet implemented these PCS platforms.

“While it is noteworthy that 32 low- and middle-income countries have initiated projects or are in various stages of implementing PCS covering 93 ports, less than 10 per cent of ports in low- and middle-income countries use port community systems, compared with 80 per cent in high-income nations.”

Ports with the highest scores on the recently-updated World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index—an important competitiveness indicator —have all adopted PCS, while most of those lower down have not.

Best practices

The study explores the concept, evolution and impact of PCS in modern global trade and looks at the strategies and best practices for implementing a PCS.

It also examines the financial, governance and legal aspects of their deployment as well as change management and the human aspect in implementing a PCS.

The report also demystifies the overlap between a PCS, a maritime single window, and trade single window systems and points at the best ways of enabling seamless data exchange to improve efficiency and sustainability in global supply chains.

“By integrating a PCS into the existing digital port infrastructure, port stakeholders can achieve more efficient and secure communication, enhance cargo visibility, and reduce the time and costs associated with manual paper-based processes, especially vessel time at berth,” said IAPH managing director Patrick Verhoeven.

“Additionally, a PCS can help governments streamline customs and border procedures, and contribute to national trade facilitation programs.

“Achieving these proven benefits by using lessons from global experience is the aim of this publication, whether you are a small island developing state or industrialised country.”