The Port of Rotterdam has pledged its support for the European Maritime Single Window environment (EMSWe) Regulation, a European Commission proposal to reduce the length of reporting procedures during European port calls.
According to the European Commission, reusing reported data, harmonising IT interfaces, and combining customs and maritime reporting procedures, could cut the time spent by about 50%.
The Regulation would not make any changes to existing European, national and local reporting obligations, as it merely prescribes which procedures ships need to adhere to during port calls in the European Union.
Data harmonization is of great importance to the Port of Rotterdam, as it believes that data which has not been fully standardized will ultimately create “administrative chaos” for the responsible authorities, impeding the efficient handling of shipping traffic in European ports.
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The Port of Rotterdam has also called upon European policymakers to maintain the reporting route via Port Community Systems, an electronic platform that connects Rotterdam, shippers and multiple other ports.
Rotterdam also wants to maintain the National Single Window (NSW), a system that enables international traders to submit regulatory documents at a single location, as a method of reporting.
In order to ensure a free choice of reporting route, either through Port Community Systems or NSW, an amendment to the current regulations is necessary.
The European Parliaments Committee on Transport will discuss the proposal for an EMSWe on November 8, 2018.