A new ruling from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) stipulating governments must exchange electronic data between ships and ports has come into effect.
The ruling, which became official on April 8, 2019, is part of the IMO's Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention).
The new law has been crafted to facilitate smoother cross-border trade.
Kitack Lim, IMO Secretary-General, said: “The new FAL Convention requirement for all public authorities to establish systems for the electronic exchange of information related to maritime transport marks a significant move in the maritime industry and ports towards a digital maritime world, reducing the administrative burden and increasing the efficiency of maritime trade and transport.”
According to a statement, the FAL Convention promotes the use of a “single window” for data that allows all parties in the logistics chain to access information via one portal.
Such a move increases ship visibility, people and cargo, rendering planning processes simpler and enabling further cooperation.
Other maritime issues that will also be discussed by the IMO's Facilitation Committee, which is meeting from April 8-12 for its 43rd session, include ongoing efforts to achieve the standardisation of electronic messages.
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