The U.S. Department of State’s Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) programme has selected Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC) as its partner to provide IT management services for establishing a National Maritime Single Window (NMSW).
A NMSW is an electronic platform that facilitates the exchange of information between government agencies and the shipping industry.
It acts as a centralised system for reporting and processing marine transport-related data, such as cargo, vessel, crew, and port information.
The NMSW’s creation intends to increase openness in government operations involving international marine transportation while also encouraging inter-agency collaboration.
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All public agencies in International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states must create, maintain, and use such systems in ports by 1 January 2024.
Georgian ports, such as the Port of Batumi, Port of Poti, Kulevi Terminal, and Supsa Terminal, handle an annual cargo volume of 50 million tonnes and 2.2 million TEU but lack a multi-port data information exchange infrastructure.
The project is being operationalised by Amentum and will be commissioned and managed in the future by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) as owner of the Georgia Maritime Single Window.
It is funded by the Department of State’s EXBS program and managed by the U.S. Department of Justice’s International Crime Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP).
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HPC’s responsibilities include process definition, requirement engineering, and software implementation assistance in accordance with IMO rules.
Aleksi Akhvlediani, Director of the MTA, stated: “By adopting the National Maritime Single Window, we are actively pursuing increased efficiency and attractiveness to the logistics industry.
“This step represents a significant advancement in Georgia’s digital supply chain infrastructure and is a crucial development for our economic growth and Georgia’s geopolitical significance of the Middle Corridor.”
Nuno Nunes, Project Lead at HPC, said: “The collaboration provided by a National Maritime Single Window enables better support to the private sector by facilitating faster governmental agency interventions in processes.
“This results in more efficient customs procedures, enhanced transparency in import and export operations, and supports integration between Asia and Europe.”
