'Milestone' White Paper will support move towards Single Window concept

A detailed White Paper being developed by the European Port Community Systems Association will define for the first time the role that Port Community Systems can play in the move towards the European 'Single Window' concept.

Members of EPCSA, who represent some of Europe's leading Port Community Systems, are working closely together to develop the White Paper, which will be a 'milestone' in terms of moving forward maritime and logistics IT developments, says EPCSA acting vice-chairman Stefan Engels.

Meeting in Brussels, the EPCSA members agreed to work towards a summer launch for the White Paper. They also appointed Stefan Engels, newly appointed board member at Bremen-based dbh, as acting vice-chairman of EPCSA.
“This White Paper will be a vital starting point in bringing together information and input from all of the EPCSA members,” he says. “The first question to EPCSA from Europe will be 'What can you contribute?' – this White Paper will be the key document we will work with.”

Communication is the vital cog in the smooth transport and logistics operations that drive day-to-day trade across Europe. The need for simpler, more effective IT communications is at the heart of EPCSA, whose founding partners are Felixstowe-based Maritime Cargo Processing; Portbase, the Dutch logistics information hub formed in 2009 through the merger of Rotterdam's Port infolink and Amsterdam's PortNET; Bremen-based dbh; Barcelona's PORTIC; and the French port community system operator SOGET.

“Port Community Systems can, and will, play a major role as Europe moves towards the Single Window concept; EPCSA's members will be working together to provide expert opinion on proposed new regulation and contribute to the harmonisation and coordination of reporting formalities, processes and procedures,” says Stefan Engels.
EPCSA has the opportunity to save the European Community time, money and effort by demonstrating and explaining the role, benefits and objectives of Port Community Systems and creating a picture of what is already possible, says Stefan Engels. “We have the opportunity to help Europe towards a harmonisation that could create an economic area comparable to other influential free trade zones around the world.”

EPCSA was formed at the end of 2010; it is the first time that the five major Port Community Systems in Europe have worked together in this way. One of its first meetings was attended by delegates from the EC's DG-Move, who learned about the pivotal role that Port Community Systems play in trade and transport.

Note to editors:
The European Port Community Systems Association was launched in Amsterdam in September 2010. Its founding partners are Maritime Cargo Processing, Portbase, dbh, PORTIC and SOGET.

EPCSA is part-funded through Work Package 3 of the EU Dryport project, an Interreg IVB North Sea Region project.

For more information, contact;
Richard Morton, EPCSA secretary-general
Phone: +44 7769962554 E-mail: richard.morton@haven-gateway.org|