DURRËS – Albanian authorities have received essential training and guidance on the use of Maritime Single Window systems, which are expected to greatly enhance the efficiency of shipping worldwide.
Since 1 January 2024, governments around the world are required to use a single digital platform or ‘window’ to share and exchange information with ships when they call at ports.
The aim is to streamline procedures to clear the arrival, stay and departure of ships. Through a single window system, data can be submitted only once and reused as required by various government agencies.
Various Albanian ministries and stakeholders recently gathered for the National Seminar on Facilitation of Maritime Traffic, held in Durrës from 20 to 22 December 2023, to discuss the benefits of using such a platform.
The event was organised under International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) technical assistance programme and hosted by the Durrës Port Authority with the support of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat.
Forty-five delegates with responsibilities for the clearance of ships, cargoes, crews, and passengers at Albanian ports of Durrës, Shëngjin, Vlora and Saranda, joined the discussions, along with IMO technical experts led by IMO Head of Faciliation, Mr. Julian Abril Garcia.
The seminar provided advice on the latest amendments to the Annex to the Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention), a key treaty aimed at achieving the most efficient maritime transport possible, enabling smooth transit in ports of ships, cargo and passengers.
The amendments, adopted in 2022, make the Maritime Single Window electronic data exchange mandatory globally, marking a significant step in the acceleration of digitalisation in shipping. The amendments came into force 1 January.
