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Port Community Systems News

15 Jun 2022

Wärtsilä Acquires PortLink Global

Port of Dover, a PortLink Global customer. Courtesy of Port of Dover and PortLink.

Wärtsilä Voyage acquired PortLink Global, a global port solutions company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The move is intended to speed Wärtsilä Voyage along its path towards creating an end-to-end connected maritime ecosystem.The transaction was signed and closed in June 2022.PortLink and Wärtsilä Voyage have partnered in the past – collaborating on projects including the co-development of a Port Management Information System (PMIS) for the largest Mediterranean and African port…

31 Oct 2019

Singapore Launches digitalPORT@SG

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Heng Swee Keat, DPM Heng announced the launch of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) ‘digitalPORT@SG’, a digital Portal for One-stop Regulatory Transactions, which is Singapore’s maritime single window system that will serve as a one-stop portal for maritime regulatory and port services transactions.It will be developed in two phases: Phase 1 – users can obtain approval for all arriving and departing ships from three public agencies – MPA, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and the National Environment Agency – through a single portal. The portal will consolidate up to 16 separate forms into a single application.

08 Apr 2019

IMO Addresses Efficiency of Shipping

International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Facilitation Committee addresses the efficiency of shipping by dealing with all matters related to the facilitation of international maritime traffic, including the arrival, stay and departure of ships, persons and cargo from ports.The Committee is meeting for its 43rd session (8-12 April), coinciding with the entry into effect of new requires for all public authorities to introduce electronic exchange of information between ships and ports.Alongside other agenda items, the Committee is expected to continue its ongoing work on harmonization and standardization of electronic messages and develop…

14 Feb 2019

European Ports Hail EMSWe

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomes the agreement reached on 7 February between the Parliament and the Council on the new regulation establishing a European Maritime Single Window environment (EMSWe).It said that with the new framework, which will repeal the current Reporting Formalities Directive, important steps are made towards reducing administrative burden and increasing the attractiveness of maritime transport. It provides for the creation of a EMSWe dataset, harmonised National Single Windows and the application of the reporting-only-once principle."We are very happy that the new framework is recognizing the bottom…

11 Feb 2019

EU Cuts Red Tape for Ships

The last Trilogue negotiation between the Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament on the “European Maritime Single Window environment”, (EMSWe) took place in Brussels.The EU is streamlining its ship reporting systems by creating a EMSWe, which will bring together all reporting formalities associated with a port call.The final text contains a compromise that provides security for Port Community Systems in relation to the public National Single Windows that have to act as access points at the national level for all reporting formalities.Port Community Systems that meet the requirements of the European reporting interface module must be allowed by member states as additional reporting systems.

05 Dec 2018

Shippers Welcome European Maritime Single Window

The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA)  and the World Shipping Council (WSC) welcome the adoption of a General Approach on the proposal for a European Maritime Single Window environment by Transport Ministers.European co-legislators have been working intensively to reduce the administrative burden shipping faces. This burden stems from today’s unharmonised and inefficient reporting obligations and mechanisms within the EU."ECSA and WSC are pleased with the progress being made in both Council and European Parliament towards the establishment of a European Maritime Single Window environment (EMSWe)," said a press note from ECSA.Martin Dorsman…

25 Oct 2018

EU Hails Maritime Single Window Environment

The European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism has recently published the draft report on the Commission’s proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Maritime Single Window environment.The rapporteur, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Deirdre Clune of European People's Party (EPP)-Ireland rightly focuses in her draft report on the harmonisation of data elements and data sets, advocates the cooperation between customs and maritime authorities at both national and Union level and recognises that, even with a fully harmonised data set, competent authorities might for some reasons require additional data.The draft report moreover states that Member states should allow the use of port community systems…

24 Sep 2018

EU Backs European Maritime Single Window

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Maritime Single Window environment, stated a ESPO Secretariat.For European ports though, reducing the administrative burden in maritime transport and facilitating trade is a top priority. ESPO wants more ambition on the harmonisation of data definitions and data sets, while maintaining the existing reporting systems, it said in a press release.This would further reduce the administrative burden and would facilitate trade. This is the guiding principle of ESPO’s position paper in response to the Commission’s proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Maritime Single Window environment which was published on 17 May.For European ports…

12 Jun 2018

IMO Brings Port Issues to the Fore

Global trade by sea is dependent on the interconnection between ships, ports and people - and everyone needs to be involved, from port operators, to regulators, to maritime security experts and innovators in technology. The theme of mutual cooperation and collaboration was highlighted throughout a special event on ports, held at  International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters (11 June). The Special Port Event was supported by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, in collaboration with the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH). Across four sessions, 18 panellists shared their views on port related issues such as automation and digitalisation…

27 Feb 2017

Haropa Ports sees double digit maritime trade with India

France-based Haropa port expects maritime trade with India to grow at double digit this calendar year after having reported 7% growth in 2016, said Herve Martel, , CEO - Port of Le Havre & President- HAROPA ports. “We have received encouraging response from the Indian policy makers as also from port, shipping lines & Indian trade during our four day visit to India and we hope to build upon this momentum with increasing French investments taking place in India,” Martel said at the concluding leg of the multi city road show that took place in Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad and finally in Mumbai. There are over 1,000 French subsidiaries, including Sanofi, Arkema, Dassault, Alstom, Total etc, in India.

14 Feb 2017

1-Stop, Bestshore Team-up for European entry

1-Stop Connections (1-Stop) and Bestshore Business Solutions UK Ltd (Bestshore) announce a new strategic alliance to bring their productivity solutions to the European and Indian-sub continent port community. Through the partnership with Bestshore, 1-Stop assures that their products and solutions are represented by trusted advisors and experts in the shipping industry. 1-Stop’s flagship product, the Vehicle Booking System (VBS), is the premier system for the Terminal to Landside interface. The VBS is active in 13 terminals across Australia, New Zealand and most recently, the Philippines. Throughout the Philippines the VBS is known as the Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS) and has achieved a 20% increase in truck throughput…

04 Feb 2016

MGI is Newest IPCSA Member

Press release- A month after celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Marseille-based Port Community System operator MGI has been welcomed as the newest member of the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA). MGI (Marseille Gyptis International) becomes IPCSA's 28th member and the association's second member based in France. “Nearly 30 ports in France and overseas have implemented the Cargo Community System AP+, MGI‟s and SOGET‟s flagship product since 2005 – including Mauritius, Benin, Togo and New Caledonia. Coinciding with its 30th anniversary in December 2015, MGI launched Ci5 (Cargo intelligence 5), its new flagship software solution designed to succeed and build on AP+.

07 Jan 2016

Abu Dhabi Ports' Maqta Gateway Starts Operations

Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone in the Emirate, has started initial trial operations of its Port Community System, ‘Maqta Gateway’, following the successful completion of Stage1 of the overall project development. Maqta Gateway, the first purpose built Port Community System (PCS) in the Emirates, now offers shipping lines, shipping agents, customs agents, terminal operators and other government agencies a single point-of-access and real-time information across a wide range of services. Maqta Gateway, designed in line with international standards, can be accessed via any online device offering its users an optimal experience through enhanced business processes and greater transparency.

04 Dec 2013

e-Compliance: Revolutionizing the Efficiency of Compliance for Maritime Regs

Philipp Lohrmann

Commercial seaborne shipping is regulated by international, EU and national authorities and is subject to a number of commercially oriented constraints. The long history and large number of organizations associated with regulation has led to a high level of complexity in managing the development of regulations, their implementation by transport operators, and their enforcement by authorities. The complexity of the situation is further aggravated by the long lifetime of ships, the different phases of ship operations…

04 Apr 2013

EPCSA Conference on Port Process Simplification

Photo: EPCSA

Two years after its official launch, the European Port Community Systems Association (ECPSA) will host a conference focusing on the simplification of port processes and trade facilitation. What are the key strands of European Union policy relating to port processes? How are they viewed from the differing perspectives of the European Commission and the shipping and ports community? And what is needed next to drive forward trade facilitation within and beyond Europe? These thorny topics will be tackled in presentations by a series of speakers and in panel discussions at the conference…

28 Jan 2013

EPCSA Announces new Chairman and Vice Chairman

The European Port Community Systems Association (EPCSA) is determined to keep its focus on the important issues and maintain close contact with officers and decision-makers in the European Commission, according to the association’s new chairman and vice-chairman. Alan Long, managing director of Felixstowe-based Maritime Cargo Processing (MCP), has been appointed chairman of EPCSA, and Piet Jan ten Thije, strategy and business director of Rotterdam-based Portbase, is the new vice chairman of the association.

28 Nov 2012

EPCSA Policy Statement - November 2012

EPCSA recognizes the importance of simplification of port processes, and Port Community Systems (PCS) provide a user driven port community solution. However, so that the impact on trade is limited any changes to requirements in these processes should be kept to a minimum and should reuse any existing infrastructure that already exists. Port Community Systems provide a means by which Member States can simplify the implementation of Directive 2010/65 by acting as a clearing centre for required information. It also provides the opportunity in Member States where PCS do not currently exist for a Port Authority or relevant competent authority to implement a Port Community System on a national or local basis.

02 Jul 2012

ISS: New Regional Team & Ops Division

Inchcape Shipping Services has announced its new regional team for Europe and North Africa following the creation of its new operations division. Reflecting ISS’ transition from eight regional profit centers within two hemispheres to four world regions and Japan, the new operations division is charged with delivering operational excellence, providing the very best products and quality of service, standardising work processes and optimising resources and capabilities. The Europe and North Africa operations team is the first of the four regional teams to be announced. Simon Edsall has been appointed as Executive Vice President of Operations Region Europe and North Africa.

29 Jul 2011

EU Funds for Maritime Information Systems Project

The EU announces funding for a project to implement a common interoperable Information and Communications Technology (ICT) platform for the maritime logistic chain in Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Germany and Portugal. The project will receive almost €8 million in co-financing from the TEN-T budget until December 2013 and will contribute to the development of TEN-T Priority Project 21 “Motorways of the Sea”. The objective of the project, which was selected under the 2010 TEN-T Multi-Annual Call, is to design and develop an interoperable ICT platform (the “MIELE Middleware”) able to interface maritime ICT systems (i.e. port community systems and other eMaritime applications) in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Cyprus and Germany (the “National Vertical Pilots”).