The single window challenge for ports

The challenges of meeting the EU’s deadline for National Single Windows and the various ways in which ports currently organise ship reporting formalities has been analysed in a study carried out by partners in the EU Port Integration Project.

Under EU Directive 2010/65, all member states are obliged to implement electronic Single Window systems by June 2015, at which point they should cease to accept paper FAL forms.

Ports argue that the Single Window concept is of the utmost importance because at present, different authorities require different declarations from calling ships (for example in terms of maritime security, health & safety, the environment etc). It would mean that these declarations have to be coordinated with each other in the future.

The recent study considers the central role that Port Community Systems can and should play in making the Single Window concept a successful reality. It focused on the e-maritime systems of Hamburg, HaminaKotka, Talinn and Valencia and considers EU ports policy, technologies and issues of interoperability.

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Article courtesy of Port Strategy.