EU looks to 2025 for maritime single window

The European Union has solidified its position to create a technology platform that will allow ocean carriers to report standard data to port authorities.    The European Union has solidified its position to create a “single window” platform within the next six years that will allow ocean carriers to report standard information to port authorities.
   Last week, an agreement was reached by the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission during their “trilogue discussions” on the European Maritime Single Window proposal.
   An early priority for the EU countries will be to simplify their administrative procedures to ensure that the same data sets can be reported to each port authority by the ocean carriers in the same way.
   The EU’s single maritime window’s “technology neutrality” strategy will still allow for the continued use of existing port community systems.
   EU member states also will designate a national authority within their respective countries to oversee the single windows development and legal mandate that will allow the storage and redistribution of data to other European authorities, when necessary.
   The ocean carrier and ports industry applauded the EU for reaching this next step in developing the maritime single window reporting system.
   Currently, ocean carriers and their agents use myriad port community systems and national single windows across the European Union to report shipping data.
   “We see the agreement as a real breakthrough on this very technical but important matter for the maritime and logistics sector. The outcome provides clear engagements towards administrative simplification and a more efficient supply chain,” said Isabelle Ryckbost, secretary general of the European Sea Ports Organization.
   “We welcome in particular that the co-legislators have agreed to the idea of a harmonized data set,” added Martin Dorsman, secretary general of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations. “This is the fundamental building block that will bring true harmonization and simplification for the shipping industry and other partners in the chain.”
   “The EU machine-to-machine interface module as required by the regulation will simplify the process of reporting data as long as it is implemented identically in each national single window without deviation,” said John Butler, president and CEO of the World Shipping Council. “The adoption of the legal text is the first important step. The next is to deliver the benefits through loyal implementation.”
   The agreement reached by the European Union must now be formalized by the European Council and Parliament and is expected to enter force in 2025.