BIMCO has received solid support for a submission at the 43rd session of the Facilitation Committee meeting (FAL 43) held at the IMO Headquarters on 8-12 April, that will ensure harmonisation of data exchanges and limit the administrative burden for ships.
The submission proposed the introduction of additional e-business solutions that supplement communication stipulated in the FAL Convention.
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On 9 April 2019 a new mandatory requirement also applied, where all Public Authorities have to set out systems for the electronic exchange of information. The authorities have two years to implement the new regulation from 9 April.
Commenting on the submission, Jeppe Skovbakke Juhl, Manager, Maritime Technology & Regulation at BIMCO, said:
This new requirement changes the way the maritime industry and ports will be communicating. Shipping is entering into the digital world, and this change will reduce the administrative burden and increase the efficiency of maritime trade and transport
In addition, BIMCO stated that the positive news is that the FAL Committee made significant progress in the harmonization and standardization of electronic messaging by approving a new IMO Reference Data Model. In fact, Mr. Juhl added that despite the fact that the software platforms may differ, the proposal is able to ensure that vessels and shore will use the same data structure when communicating.
Data models, such as the new IMO reference Data Model, include all data requirements covered by the FAL Convention. The model will be enhanced over the next years, in order to cover further information that is normally exchanged between the ship and shore to get clearance.
This is a giant step forward for harmonising the machine-to-machine data exchange communication with the shoreside
Jeppe Skovbakke Juhl concluded.
