PURPOSE: to reduce administrative formalities for ships by creating a European maritime single window.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2019/1239 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Maritime Single Window environment and repealing Directive 2010/65/EU.
CONTENT: the Regulation establishes a framework for a technologically neutral and interoperable European Maritime Single Window environment (‘EMSWe’) with harmonised interfaces, in order to facilitate the electronic transmission of information in relation to reporting obligations for ships arriving at, staying in and departing from a Union port.
Both the European Parliament and the Council have frequently called for more interoperability and more comprehensive and user-friendly communication and information flows to improve the functioning of the internal market and to meet the needs of citizens and businesses.
Consolidation of all reporting formalities associated with a port call
The main aim of this Regulation is to lay down harmonised rules for the provision of the information that is required for port calls, in particular by ensuring that the same data sets can be reported to each maritime National Single Window in the same way. This Regulation also aims to facilitate the transmission of information between declarants, relevant authorities and the providers of port services in the port of call, and other Member States.
Modification of the EMSWe data set
The application of this Regulation should not alter the time frames for, or the substance of, reporting obligations, and should not affect the subsequent storage and processing of information at Union level or at national level.
A Member State may only introduce new reporting obligations if the Commission has given its agreement and the corresponding information has been integrated into the EMSWe data set and applied in the harmonised reporting interfaces. Changes to the EMSWe data set may only be introduced once a year, except in duly justified cases.
Maritime National Single Window
The new Regulation maintains the existing maritime National Single Window in each Member State shall be maintained as the basis for a technologically neutral and interoperable European Maritime Single Window environment (‘EMSWe’). The maritime National Single Window shall constitute a comprehensive reporting entry point for maritime transport operators, performing the functionalities of data collection from the declarants and data distribution to all relevant competent authorities and providers of port services.
The Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing the technical and functional specifications of the harmonised reporting interface module of the national single maritime counters. This shall improve interoperability between the different systems.
Once-only principle
Member States shall ensure that the declarant is requested to provide the information pursuant to this Regulation only once per port call, and that the relevant data elements of the EMSWe data set are made available and reused.
Common services
The Commission shall establish:
- a common access management and user registry system for declarants and data service providers that use the maritime National Single Window, as well as for national authorities that access the maritime National Single Window in cases where authentication is required;
- an additional and optional common addressing service, provided that the harmonised reporting interface module has been fully implemented;
- an EMSWe vessel database containing a list of vessel identification information and characteristics as well as records on ship reporting exemptions;
- a common location database containing a reference list of location codes and port facility codes listed in the IMO database GISIS;
- a common Hazmat database containing a list of dangerous and polluting goods that must be notified;
- a common ship sanitation database that is able to receive and store data on maritime declarations of health. Personal data relating to sick people on board ships shall not be stored on that database.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 14.8.2019.
APPLICATION: from 15.8.2025.