The Facilitation Committee met in person at IMO Headquarters in London for its forty-eighth session (FAL 48) from 8 to 12 April 2024, where various issues were discussed.
FAL deals with matters related to the facilitation of international maritime traffic, including the arrival, stay and departure of ships, persons and cargo from ports. The Committee also addresses electronic business, including the single window concept, and aims to ensure that the right balance is struck between regulation and the facilitation of international maritime trade. According to Lloyd’s Register, at FAL 48, several key agenda items were discussed:
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Maritime Single Window (MSW): The committee continued discussions on the mandatory use of MSW by Contracting Governments to the FAL Convention since January 1, 2024. They also considered revising guidelines on authentication, integrity, and confidentiality of information exchanges via maritime single windows and related services.
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Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS): Discussions revolved around regulating MASS, which are commercial vessels capable of operating independently of human interaction. The committee approved the report of the MSC-LEG-FAL Joint Working Group on MASS and updated the roadmap to address MASS issues related to the FAL Convention.
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Guidelines on Port Community Systems (PCS): New guidelines on PCS were approved by the FAL Committee.
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Digitalisation Initiatives: Recommendations and proposals from a recent industry survey on digitalisation within ports were considered. The survey highlighted the need for standardised and harmonised digital systems across ports globally. This is due to the variation in port call interfaces and documentation among Member States, as well as the lack of IT infrastructure on many ships hindering efficient data exchange with ports.
