Outcomes of the IMO Expert Group on Data Harmonization
As a member of the Russian delegation, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) contributed to the international efforts on maritime standardization during the 13th meeting of the IMO Expert Group on Data Harmonization.
RS was represented by Sergey Ilyin, Lead Technical Support Engineer of the RS Technical Infrastructure Development Department.
The Expert Group is engaged in improving the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business – a collection of instructions, codes and datasets that form the basis for creating and harmonizing national digital information exchange systems concerning the clearance of ships in ports of arrival and departure.
At its 13th meeting, the Group focused on refining datasets and codes related to electronic seafarers certificates, enabling the harmonized exchange of meteorological and oceanographic data between ships and shore facilities, as well as recording information on a ship's sanitary control clearance among other matters.
The developments will be included in a new version of the Compendium to be approved by the Facilitation Committee at its upcoming session in 2026.
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 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.