An array of North Sea ports and regional bodies are collaborating to invest and develop a new online platform for river and canal based operations, called Single Window for Inland Navigation (SWINg).
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]The ports of Antwerp, Ostende and Zeebrugge, North Sea Port, a merger of the Dutch Zeeland Seaports (Vlissingen and Terneuzen) and the Belgian port of Ghent, Flemish Waterways, the Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services and the Joint Nautical Management are working to provide innovative solutions to inland shipping data reports.
The online reporting platform receives the data through (existing) reporting software from the reporter and forwards it to all authorities on the shipping route. SWINg offers administrative simplification, while also making inland shipping even safer and more efficient, according to a joint announcement.
SWINg is a smart communication platform for the exchange of digital reporting data between the inland shipping entrepreneur and the waterway authorities in Flanders and on the Western Scheldt.
From 2021, skippers and inland shipping companies will only have to submit a single digital report containing their route, cargo and ship’s data for voyages on waterways in Flanders and on the Western Scheldt.
“With the Single Window for Inland Navigation, the partners ensure a greater level of safety and simplification of the administration involved in inland navigation,” noted the Port of Antwerp.
“If you are sailing from Zeebrugge to Antwerp, you can use Single Window for Inland Navigation to report your data digitally at departure in Zeebrugge,” said the partners, who added, “You do not have to provide any more data if you enter the sailing area of De Vlaamse Waterweg nv or the Port of Antwerp, unless there are changes along the way.”
In addition, the partners explain, “The Single Window for Inland Navigation automatically sends the reported data to all waterway authorities on your route on condition that you pass on at least two route points via your reporting software. The exchange of these data takes place in full compliance with the legislation and privacy rules.”
Whoever already reports digitally does not have to bring new software on board, as the existing reporting software packages are being made compatible with SWINg.
“This collaboration and initiative, which also includes the Dutch Rijkswaterstaat (Department for waterways and infrastructure), and other actors, puts the partners involved among the forerunners in Europe in the field of digitalisation,” commented North Sea Port.[/s2If]
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