Tag: FAL Convention

​A mandatory requirement for national governments to introduce electronic information exchange between ships and ports comes into effect from 8 April 2019, as the IMO's Facilitation Committee meets for its 43rd session, on 8-12 April. The aim is to make cross-border trade simpler and the logistics chain more efficient.

Costa Rica is the latest country to ratify the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention). The IMO treaty enhances communication between ships and ports to help shipments move more quickly, more easily and more efficiently.

A new phase in a project to develop a maritime single window for Antigua and Barbuda has begun, with the installation of the first, basic system platform, the IMO announced. Testing will now begin and if successful, the system could potentially benefit other countries of the Caribbean and other regions of the world.

Global trade by sea depends on the communication between ships, ports and everyone that is involved, from port operators, to regulators, to maritime security experts and innovators in technology. That was the message of a special event on ports, held at IMO Headquarters on June 11. 

A special event to take place at IMO Headquarters on 11 June will emphasize on how ports can ensure smooth flow trade, by providing answers on a wide range of topics, including the trade facilitation 'single-window' system and data exchange. The importance of port security will also be covered. 

The amendments to FAL Convention have entered into force globally from 1st January 2018,  to strengthen seafarers' rights to shore leave and to achieve the smooth transit in ports of ships, cargo and passengers. 

The Panama Maritime Authority and the Panama Canal Authority announced the launch of the Panama Maritime Single Window System, which aims to facilitate international maritime transport, through simplification and harmonization of the processes, in compliance with FAL Convention.

The key IMO treaty supporting the free flow of international maritime traffic – the Facilitation Convention – was the subject of a regional seminar held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 22 to 26 May. The aim was to support a more effective implementation of the Convention as a whole, as well as the maritime “single window” concept on data exchange.

IMO announced that its Legal Committee is expected to consider adopting a resolution to encourage the ratification and implementation of the 2010 HNS Convention, when it meets for its 104th session, on 26-28 April.

The IMO Facilitation Committee held its 42st Session (FAL 41), from Tuesday 4 through Friday 7 April 2017. Mr Y Melanas (RUSSIAN FEDERATION) chaired the meeting together with his Vice Chair, Mrs M Angsell (SWEDEN), both of whom were subsequently re-elected for 2018.