UN to mandate shipboard electronic data exchange in less than two years
NEW United Nations rules to make mandatory electronic data exchange related to cargo worldwide could enter force in less than two years, reports Lloyd's Loading List.
A new standard is among the changes agreed in revisions to an annex to the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL), which is expected to enter into force in January 2018.
The UN's FAL convention, introduced in 1965, reduced to nine the number of declarations, which can be required by public authorities. These standardised forms include, among others, the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) General Declaration, the Cargo Declaration, and the Crew and Passenger Lists, and Dangerous Goods Declaration.
Today, the IMO says: "Mandatory requirements for the electronic exchange of information on cargo, crew and passengers have been adopted as part of a revised and modernised annex to FAL which aims to harmonise procedures for ship's arrival, stay and departure from port."
Although the new standards could enter force in 2018, public authorities would then have up to three years to establish systems for the electronic exchange of information.
NEW United Nations rules to make mandatory electronic data exchange related to cargo worldwide could enter force in less than two years, reports Lloyd's Loading List.
A new standard is among the changes agreed in revisions to an annex to the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL), which is expected to enter into force in January 2018.
The UN's FAL convention, introduced in 1965, reduced to nine the number of declarations, which can be required by public authorities. These standardised forms include, among others, the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) General Declaration, the Cargo Declaration, and the Crew and Passenger Lists, and Dangerous Goods Declaration.
Today, the IMO says: "Mandatory requirements for the electronic exchange of information on cargo, crew and passengers have been adopted as part of a revised and modernised annex to FAL which aims to harmonise procedures for ship's arrival, stay and departure from port."
Although the new standards could enter force in 2018, public authorities would then have up to three years to establish systems for the electronic exchange of information.