IMO: Guidelines for Setting up a Maritime Single Window

The International Maritime Organization, on 31 March 2023 published a circular with the Guidelines for Setting up a Maritime Single Window.

The Facilitation Committee, at its forty-seventh session (13 to 17 March 2023), approved the attached Guidelines for setting up a maritime single window.

Member States and international organizations are invited to bring the Guidelines to the attention of all parties concerned.

Member States and international organizations are also invited to bring to the attention of the Committee, at the earliest opportunity, the results of the experience gained from the use of the Guidelines for consideration of action to be taken.

This circular revokes FAL.5/Circ.42/Rev.2.

In these Guidelines, the main part describes the key points of development of a single window environment for the target audience shown in section 2.1. This includes key performance indicators, outlined in section 6.2, based on the characteristics, outlined in section 8, for a single window environment which addresses overall administrative burdens on shipping.

The annexes contain important information related to development of a single window environment.

Scope

Though recommendations and guidelines have been developed by the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), the World Customs Organization (WCO) and other organizations, they only provide basic definitions, models, data harmonization or road maps towards implementation of a single window environment.

Implementers may face many difficulties in developing a single window environment, because there are no specific guidelines covering the maritime reporting element.

The goal of this document is to develop single window environment guidelines and a framework that cover the entire life cycle.

It is believed that the resulting environment will provide for (1) simplified electronic means of clearance of ships in maritime transport, (2) standardization of logistics activities, interface and information in overall maritime transport, and (3) improved maritime logistics efficiency and strengthened maritime logistics competitiveness of IMO Member States.

These Guidelines are built upon general single window concepts and characteristics which have been expanded to integrate the requirements of maritime transport.

Target audience

The target audience of these Guidelines are public authorities or Administrations responsible for developing or modifying environments for a Maritime Single Window (MSW) and Contracting Governments that encourage the introduction of MSW environments to the public authorities, etc.

Depending on a country's situation, a Contracting Government may act as the public authority or Administration.

These Guidelines will also be helpful for consultants on behalf of public authorities or Administrations and other interested organizations.