IMO Seeks Global Feedback on Maritime Single Window Systems
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched a global survey to assess the implementation and use of Maritime Single Window (MSW) systems, aiming to determine their effectiveness in reducing administrative workloads and improving maritime digitalisation across the shipping industry.
Maritime Single Window systems enable ships to submit information required for port calls once through a centralised digital platform. Using harmonised data standards, these systems facilitate efficient information exchange between relevant authorities and ensure interoperability among different maritime systems, reducing the need for repeated reporting.
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Evaluating Implementation and Operational Impact
The IMO survey will collect information on the level of implementation and use of MSW systems by the end of 2026. The exercise is intended to establish whether these digital reporting platforms are delivering the benefits they were designed to achieve, particularly in reducing the administrative burden on maritime stakeholders and users.
A follow-up survey is envisaged for 2028 to assess developments since 2026 and provide further insight into the impact of MSW implementation on administrative workloads across the maritime sector.
The survey is open to all stakeholders with experience in the implementation, operation or use of Maritime Single Window systems. To ensure the accuracy and relevance of the findings, respondents must provide certain mandatory information, including the country concerned and their organisation type or stakeholder category.
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The IMO Secretariat will analyse the responses by country and stakeholder group to identify common trends, implementation challenges and good practices.
Industry Feedback to Guide Maritime Digitalisation
The survey seeks input from all relevant stakeholders involved in submitting, processing and using information through Maritime Single Window systems. These include both public authorities and private-sector users.
Their feedback will help the IMO identify practical challenges and opportunities to improve the implementation and operation of MSW systems. The findings will also provide a clearer understanding of how these digital platforms are affecting administrative procedures across the maritime industry.
The assessment is particularly significant as the effectiveness of maritime digitalisation depends not only on the introduction of digital reporting systems but also on their practical use and ability to facilitate information exchange between different authorities and industry participants.
