The 46th meeting of the IMO Facilitation Committee (FAL 46) took place from 9 to 13 May. It was a successful meeting for IAPH with two submissions noted and approved by the Committee. Firstly, there was the paper by IAPH and co-sponsors BIMCO and IHMA proposing amendments to the Maritime Single Window Guidelines to include guidance on the port call process and the operational and nautical data that may be exchanged through a maritime single window. Secondly, IAPH had submitted a proposal inviting the Committee to note the first edition of the IAPH Cybersecurity Guidelines for Ports and Port Facilities and to consider promoting them as appropriate and referencing them in the next version of IMO’s Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management. Both documents were met with appreciation from Member States and were approved accordingly. The FAL Committee also adopted amendments to the Facilitation Convention, which will make the Maritime Single Window (MSW) concept for data exchange mandatory in ports around the world, marking a significant step in improving digitalisation in shipping. Facilitating the implementation of the MSW obligation, which is expected to enter into force 1 January 2024, is a top priority for IAPH in the coming year. Members of the IAPH Data Collaboration Committee received a full report on the FAL meeting. The next meeting of the Facilitation Committee (FAL 47) is scheduled to take place from 19 to 23 June 2023.
