IMO’s event on ports and supply chain cooperation

Coordination between ports and ways to facilitate trade, information exchange, and Single Window were on the agenda of the special event on ports organised by the International Maritime Organization on 11 June 2018. European Shippers’ Council discussed the state of the maritime supply chain with the Secretary General of the IMO and suggested to organise a special event on the Supply Chain allowing an exchange of views between all relevant parties in the chain. “A very good idea!” said Secretary General Kitack Lim taking his notebook. ESC is looking forward to this cooperation.

At the IMO’s event on ports (it is rather rare for the IMO to focus on the “landside”), ESC together with Frank Heijman, representing Dutch Customs, demonstrated how Customs and Industry can facilitate trade and exchange information. Different ports each explained their own port community system. It was made clear by different presenters that connecting these different PCS is a key prerequisite for further developments. For more information about the event, please see here.

IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. Traditionally, its focus is on “the waterside” of the maritime supply chain. The overall IMO’s objectives are summed up in the IMO slogan: safe, secure, and efficient shipping on clean oceans.