On Thursday 8 November, the European Parliaments Committee on Transport will discuss the proposal for a European Maritime Single Window environment (EMSWe) Regulation.
The EMSWe Regulation as proposed by European Commission is intended to reduce the amount of time that ships spend on reporting procedures during European port calls (1-3 hours per call). According to the European Commission, reusing the reported data (‘reporting only once’), harmonising IT interfaces and combining customs and maritime reporting procedures could cut this time by about 50%. The Regulation would not make any changes to existing European, national and local reporting obligations. Rather, it prescribes which procedures ships need to adhere to during port calls in the European Union.
For the Port of Rotterdam, it is of great importance that the European Commission** makes maximum use of data harmonization** in accordance with the proposals of the International Maritime Organization (IMO/FAL43) and that it refrains from prescribing technical solutions, as is currently the case. The exchange of data that has not been fully harmonised or standardised will ultimately create administrative chaos on the side of the responsible authorities, which could impede the swift and efficient handling of shipping traffic in European ports.
Together with the other major Dutch seaports other involved stakeholders and industry organisations , the Port of Rotterdam calls upon European policymakers to maintain the reporting route via existing Port Community Systems, in addition to the possibility to report via the ‘National Single Window’ (NSW). This possibility is already included in the Regulation in Article 6.1. In order to ensure that the declarant (and not the Member States) have the free choice between reporting via ‘Port Community Services’ (PCS) or via the NSW, an amendment to Article 6.1. is necessary.
In a joint Position Paper, the Port of Rotterdam, Port of Amsterdam, North Sea Port, Groningen Seaports, Port of Moerdijk, evofenedex, Portbase, Deltalinqs and Ondernemend Amsterdam (ORAM) therefore advocate for maintaining the reporting route via the PCS and for a free choice in ‘reporting means’ for reporting parties. This position is fully in line with the position of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO).
