IMO – Facilitation of Maritime Traffic and Transport in Digital Format

Introduction

Publications from the International Maritime Organization dedicated to the facilitation of maritime traffic and transport in digital format provide reference documentation for understanding the international rules applicable to ship arrival, stay and departure formalities in ports. They also concern crews, passengers, cargoes, ship agents, port authorities and all stakeholders involved in international maritime transport operations.

The FAL Convention, or Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, provides the main international regulatory framework in this field. Its objectives include reducing unnecessary delays, harmonizing formalities and promoting cooperation between administrations.

The digital version of this documentation is particularly important in a maritime sector that is rapidly moving towards electronic data exchange, Maritime Single Windows and interoperability between information systems.

Since 1 January 2024, IMO Member States have been required to use Maritime Single Windows for the electronic exchange of information required during ship calls.

What Is Maritime Traffic Facilitation?

Maritime traffic facilitation encompasses measures designed to simplify, harmonize and rationalize formalities associated with ship calls.

When a ship arrives in port, numerous types of information may be required: ship identity, crew, passengers, cargo, dangerous goods, health information, security information or voyage-related data.

The FAL Convention provides an international framework designed to limit the duplication of declarations and promote coordinated use of information.

IMO documentation dedicated to facilitation covers in particular:

• ship arrival;

• port stay;

• ship departure;

• crew formalities;

• passenger information;

• cargo declarations;

• dangerous goods;

• stowaways;

• health and quarantine matters;

• electronic data exchange;

• customs and control procedures.

The FAL Convention and Digital Transformation

The FAL Convention has progressively evolved to accompany the digital transformation of maritime transport.

Electronic exchange of information identified by the Convention became mandatory in 2019. Since January 2024, the principle of the Maritime Single Window has also been mandatory in the ports of IMO Member States.

The principle is straightforward: information required for a ship call should be submitted electronically, ideally once, and then reused by the relevant authorities.

This development is fundamentally changing port procedures.

Digital technology is therefore no longer simply a convenient way of consulting regulations. It has become part of the operation of international maritime facilitation itself.

The Maritime Single Window

The Maritime Single Window, or MSW, is a digital platform that centralizes information exchanged between ships and public authorities during a port call.

It may process information relating to:

• the ship;

• the master and crew;

• passengers;

• cargo;

• dangerous goods;

• customs formalities;

• security;

• health information;

• certificates and regulatory documents;

• arrival and departure procedures.

The objective is to reduce duplicate data entry, improve coordination between administrations and accelerate the processing of formalities.

For a ship making several successive port calls, this standardization can considerably simplify information management.

Electronic Data Exchange and Data Standardization

Digital transformation does not simply mean replacing a paper form with a computer file.

For information exchange to be effective, data must be capable of being understood and processed by different systems.

The IMO therefore works on data standardization, exchange formats and interoperability between systems operated by ships, ports, administrations and other maritime transport stakeholders.

The IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business provides a reference model intended to harmonize definitions, structures and formats used for maritime data exchange.

This standardization is essential to prevent the same information from being entered differently into several systems.

Example of a Port Call in a Major European Port

Consider a container ship arriving in Le Havre from the Atlantic Ocean.

Before arrival, various types of information may be required by authorities and port stakeholders: ship identification, crew, cargo, dangerous goods, certificates, security information and data required for port procedures.

In a digital environment, this information can be transmitted electronically before arrival and processed by the relevant authorities.

The same ship may then proceed to Rotterdam and Antwerp.

The importance of standardization and interoperability becomes particularly clear in this situation: different stakeholders do not necessarily use the same IT systems, but data must be capable of being exchanged and interpreted consistently.

English Channel and North Sea

Digital facilitation is directly relevant to the major commercial routes of the English Channel and North Sea.

Ports such as Dunkirk, Calais, Le Havre, Cherbourg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Southampton and Portsmouth are located along shipping routes characterized by heavy traffic from container ships, ferries, bulk carriers, tankers and specialized vessels.

In such a busy environment, the speed and reliability of information exchange play an important role in preparing port calls.

Digital IMO publications help explain the regulatory and technical principles accompanying this development.

Atlantic Ocean and Bay of Biscay

Digital facilitation also applies to routes across the Atlantic Ocean and Bay of Biscay.

Ports such as Brest, Saint-Nazaire, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bayonne, Bilbao, Vigo and Lisbon are integrated into international maritime transport networks.

A vessel operating between Northern Europe, the Iberian Peninsula and Atlantic routes must manage several port calls and different administrative environments.

International data standardization facilitates transmission of the information required by the various authorities.

Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar and International Routes

In the Mediterranean Sea, facilitation procedures concern major ports such as Marseille, Fos-sur-Mer, Toulon, Genoa, Livorno, Naples, Barcelona, Valencia and Gibraltar.

These ports are connected to European, African and international trade routes.

After Gibraltar, vessels may continue towards the Atlantic Ocean, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.

The international framework of the FAL Convention establishes common principles for port-call procedures regardless of the maritime area concerned.

Complementarity with Nautical Charts and Publications

IMO publications dedicated to facilitation serve a different purpose from nautical charts.

Documents produced by SHOM, ADMIRALTY and NV Charts primarily provide the geographical and hydrographic information required for navigation.

IMO publications, by contrast, address the international framework applicable to ships, port calls, formalities and information exchange.

These two bodies of documentation are therefore complementary.

A vessel sailing from Le Havre to Rotterdam, for example, needs nautical documentation appropriate to navigation in the English Channel and North Sea while also applying the administrative and digital procedures associated with its port calls.

Why Use the Digital Format?

Digital format is particularly useful for regulatory texts and extensive technical documentation.

It facilitates in particular:

• keyword searches;

• rapid access to a specific section;

• consultation of several chapters;

• searching for a regulatory provision;

• comparison of technical concepts;

• port-call preparation;

• maritime training;

• regulatory monitoring;

• consultation on a computer or tablet, depending on the product and its licence.

Electronic searching makes it possible, for example, to quickly locate terms such as “Maritime Single Window”, “ship clearance”, “cargo declaration”, “port call”, “crew” or “dangerous goods”.

This search capability is particularly valuable for professionals who need to work with detailed regulatory texts.

For Merchant Navy Officers and Maritime Professionals

Merchant navy officers are directly concerned by facilitation procedures.

The master, officers and operations managers need to understand the information required to prepare a port call and the exchanges carried out with authorities.

Digital documentation is also relevant to:

• shipowners;

• shipping companies;

• ship agents;

• fleet managers;

• operations managers;

• port authorities;

• maritime administrations;

• logistics professionals;

• multimodal transport specialists.

It can be used for procedure preparation, training, audits and regulatory monitoring.

For Maritime Schools and Training Centres

Digital IMO publications are also suitable resources for maritime education.

They can be used to study:

• the FAL Convention;

• port-call procedures;

• port regulations;

• the Maritime Single Window;

• electronic data exchange;

• maritime logistics;

• transport formalities;

• ship documentation;

• digital transformation of the maritime sector.

They enable students and maritime professionals in training to understand how traditional administrative procedures are evolving towards interconnected digital systems.

Interoperability and Digitalization of Maritime Transport

Digitalization of maritime facilitation is not limited to the Maritime Single Window.

The IMO also works on interoperability, data standardization, data governance, ship-port information exchange and optimized port operations.

In March 2026, the IMO Facilitation Committee approved a comprehensive maritime digitalization strategy intended in particular to promote interoperability, system standardization, data sharing and effective information governance.

This development directly concerns facilitation procedures and exchanges between ships, ports and administrations.

Cybersecurity and Digital Exchanges

The widespread use of electronic information exchange also creates new cybersecurity challenges.

Maritime Single Window systems must ensure user authentication, data integrity and confidentiality of exchanged information.

The IMO is now explicitly addressing the resilience and cybersecurity of Maritime Single Windows. Amendments concerning mandatory cybersecurity measures were approved in 2026, with subsequent adoption procedures planned within the framework of the FAL Convention.

This dimension is therefore becoming inseparable from digital maritime facilitation.

Conclusion

IMO publications dedicated to the facilitation of maritime traffic and transport in digital format provide reference documentation for understanding the evolution of international maritime procedures towards electronic data exchange.

The FAL Convention provides the international framework applicable to formalities relating to the arrival, stay and departure of ships, as well as crews, passengers and cargoes.

The Maritime Single Window, data standardization, system interoperability, digitalization of port calls and cybersecurity are now essential elements of maritime facilitation.

This documentation concerns ports and routes in the English Channel and North Sea as well as the Bay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.

It forms part of a broader documentary environment complemented by nautical charts and publications from SHOM, ADMIRALTY, NV Charts and other national hydrographic offices.

The digital format is particularly suited to professionals and maritime training institutions seeking accessible, searchable international documentation adapted to the digital transformation of maritime transport.

FAQ

What is the IMO FAL Convention?

The FAL Convention is the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic. It establishes standards and recommended practices concerning formalities and procedures applicable to ships, crews, passengers and cargoes during their arrival, stay and departure from a port.

What is maritime traffic facilitation?

Maritime facilitation aims to simplify, harmonize and rationalize administrative formalities and information exchanges associated with ship calls.

What is a Maritime Single Window?

A Maritime Single Window is a digital platform that centralizes information exchange between ships and public authorities during port calls.

Since when has the Maritime Single Window been mandatory?

The Maritime Single Window has been mandatory in the ports of IMO Member States since 1 January 2024 for the electronic exchange of information relating to ship calls.

Why use an IMO publication in digital format?

Digital format facilitates keyword searches, rapid access to chapters, consultation of regulatory texts and documentary monitoring.

Does the digital format replace port procedures?

No. A digital publication is a reference document. Operational procedures are implemented by the relevant systems and authorities in each port environment.

What information is covered by maritime facilitation?

It may concern the ship, crew, passengers, cargo, dangerous goods, certificates, security, health matters and arrival or departure formalities.

What is maritime interoperability?

Interoperability is the ability of different IT systems and organizations to exchange and process data using compatible formats and definitions.

What is the role of the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business?

It provides a reference model intended to promote the standardization and harmonization of data used in electronic exchanges between different maritime transport stakeholders.

Which ports are concerned by digital facilitation?

The FAL Convention concerns international maritime transport. It therefore applies to major ports such as Dunkirk, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Brest, Saint-Nazaire, Marseille, Genoa and Gibraltar, as well as international ports worldwide.

Does maritime facilitation concern cargo?

Yes. The FAL Convention contains provisions concerning formalities and information relating to cargoes and other articles carried by ships.

What is the difference between IMO publications and SHOM or ADMIRALTY charts?

IMO publications primarily concern international conventions, rules, procedures and standards. SHOM and ADMIRALTY charts primarily provide the geographical and hydrographic information required for navigation.

Does digitalization of maritime facilitation involve cybersecurity?

Yes. The widespread use of digital exchanges creates security requirements concerning authentication, integrity, confidentiality and resilience of maritime information systems.

Who are IMO digital facilitation publications intended for?

They are intended in particular for merchant navy officers, masters, shipowners, shipping companies, ship agents, fleet managers, port authorities, administrations, logistics professionals and maritime schools.

Does digital maritime facilitation concern only European ports?

No. The IMO framework is international and applies to global shipping routes, from the English Channel and North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.