RS reports on the outcomes of the IMO Expert Group on Data Harmonization

The Expert Group, established as a subgroup of the IMO Facilitation Committee (FAL), is working to maintain and improve the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business. The Compendium is a collection of instructions, codes and datasets that underly the establishment and harmonization of national digital systems for receiving, transmitting and exchanging information on the clearance of ships at ports of entry and departure.

During its 11th session, the Group focused on improving datasets and codes on fuel consumption and a ship’s operational carbon intensity, cargo and in particular dangerous goods, as well as information support for phytosanitary inspections of containers.

The outcomes of the meeting will be reviewed during the next session of the FAL Committee in 2025. Agreed changes to the datasets will be incorporated into a new version of the Compendium for approval by the Committee.

From a practical standpoint, the work of the Group lays the foundation for developing and unifying mechanisms of electronic information exchange at the national level in order to simplify the processing of bulky data on ship and cargo with the ultimate goal to reduce the administrative burden on shipowners, flag and port authorities.

Additional information:

Founded in 1913, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) is a world-renowned classification society that operates within all spheres of the maritime industry with the goal of improving the operational and environmental safety of marine transportation. RS reviews technical documentation, surveys ships and offshore facilities under construction and in service, certifies vessels and companies for compliance with international conventions, recognizes and certifies industrial products and manufacturers, certifies quality management systems for compliance with international and national standards.

Today, RS is actively implementing the concept "More than class" by expanding its scope of services in the field of engineering and consulting, the development of technical documentation for vessels in service, marine warranty surveys and certification. In addition, RS surveys all container types, including tank containers and offshore containers, confirms compliance of packaging for dangerous goods, as well as renders services on the declaration and certification of dangerous goods and bulk cargoes.