At a recent meeting in London at the Baltic Exchange, the world’s leading associations for the world port community gathered to set out a Roundtable aiming to establish a stronger voice of the port sector in the maritime industry.
Each association analyzed its main priorities moving ahead with all parties and agreed to collaborate closely on current and new projects, especially those related to meeting IMO regulations on safety, environment and operations.
During the discussion, follow up actions were planned on a number of projects and programmes. Other priorities included the adoption of “single window” data information exchange between all port players, along with the impact of autonomous vessels on safety.
The group also outlined other key port industry hot topics such as container weighing standard processes, ISPS adoption, e-maritime and ship reporting, electronic FAL documentation use, CTU packing codes, safe mooring procedures and maritime signage.
In addition, the talks included the adoption of an inclusive ‘supply chain approach’ towards GHG emission reductions, bunkering solutions to mitigate the IMO 0.5% global sulphur cap on fuel by 2020 and the improvement of port calls to the benefit of all parties.
IAPH’s managing Director Patrick Verhoeven, mentioned:
This first Roundtable meeting of international port organisations sets the ball rolling in terms of sharing information and resources between key players in the port community, and providing a united voice in global fora such as the various working committees of the IMO.
