South Africa lays plans for Maritime Single Window

LONDON : Leading maritime stakeholders in South Africa are laying the groundwork to advance maritime digitalization in the country through the establishment of a Maritime Single Window (MSW) system. 

A multi-stakeholder workshop held in Durban (10 – 12 September), organized by the IMO and South Africa’s Department of Transport, focused on the next practical steps to implement the mandatory digital platform. 

Since 1 January 2024, all IMO Member States are required to use a single digital platform or “Maritime Single Window” for collecting and exchanging information with ships during port calls. This system simplifies the processes for the arrival, stay, and departure of vessels, significantly improving the efficiency of global shipping operations. 

Over 60 representatives from key government agencies participated in the workshop, including the Department of Transport (DoT), Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), South African Revenue Service (SARS), Border Management Authority (BMA), as well as ship agents and the South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents (SAASOA). 

Bringing all relevant stakeholders together, the workshop examined the key requirements of the International Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention) concerning the digitalization of ship clearance processes at ports.  

Participants heard from two IMO experts from the Port of Bilbao, one of the largest ports in Spain, and from International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA) who shared their experiences in maritime digitalization. Discussions explored the potential challenges that South Africa could face in developing an MSW, as well as success factors.