ECSA and ETF welcomed the adoption by Members of the European Parliament of the proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Maritime Single Window environment. They stated that they look forward to the formal adoption by the Council in order for the Regulation to apply and deliver on the much-awaited administrative simplification for shipping.
ECSA and ETF believe the new Regulation creating a European Maritime Single Window environment will bring harmonisation and re-use of information and can cut the administrative burden on crew and operators caused by the previous Reporting Formalities Directive.
With the new Regulation, shipping is one step closer to enjoying a single market with facilitation and simplification.
For several years now the maritime transport social partners have called for a reduction of the administrative burden for shipping. The endless paperwork faced today is detrimental to the motivation and functioning of the masters and officers working onboard and the onshore shipping companies’ staff, as well as to smooth shipping operations in ports
ETF said.
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Namely, ETF and ECSA are pleased to see that there will be a harmonised, comprehensive list of the data elements that needs to be provided. Additional requirements can only be allowed in exceptional and duly justified circumstances.
They also welcome the fact that harmonised spreadsheets will be established and accepted in any port and that manual reporting can be performed through a user-friendly graphical user interface that must be constructed and look in such a way that one can easily navigate through it and fulfill the reporting obligations whatever port is called at. These elements will benefit the involved staff, whether on board or in the office.
Moreover, the two organizations are in favour of the Member States ensuring the provision of adequate and necessary training for staff directly involved in the operation of the maritime National Single Window and stress the importance of having training for all relevant parties.
ETF and ECSA see such training as an opportunity to enhance communication between ship and shore and contribute to mutual understanding and support between crew onboard and onshore staff. Such training should provide the right people with the right skills
Finally, when the Council gives permissions, the implementation of the Regulation can begin, and ECSA and ETF called the Commission and Member States to stick to the ambition of the proposal: a real single market for shipping without an administrative burden on crew.
