(NEWS) IMO Expert Lectures on Maritime Single Window and FAL

January

2024

IMO Expert Lectures on Maritime Single Window and FAL

On 25 January, WMU students had the opportunity to interact with Mr Julian Abril Garcia, Head of the Facilitation Section in the Maritime Safety Division at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), who delivered a lecture on “Maritime Single Window and FAL” as part of the Introduction to the Roles and Obligations of Maritime Administrations course.

The course provides a broad overview and appreciation of the role of government in the administration of maritime affairs and examines maritime administration conceptually and in terms of maritime governance such as implementation of maritime Conventions. Complementing the core instruction by resident faculty, Mr Abril Garcia’s lecture focused on the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL), which comprises an important part of IMO’s regulatory framework and includes matters such as the sundry and routine documents and messages to be presented by ships for port clearance. The administrative workings of the FAL Convention, including IMO’s Facilitation Committee and National Facilitation Committees, were also presented. Additional themes included stowaways, and the Maritime Single Window which was made mandatory under IMO rules as of 1 January 2024 for ship data exchange in ports. Mr Abril Garcia also spoke about the role of IMO in assisting its Member States in developing and implementing the Maritime Single Window, and IMO’s future aspirations in this endeavour.

Mr Abril Garcia has over 30 years of experience in maritime administration on subjects related to safety, security, human factor and facilitation, at national and international level. He joined IMO in 2011 and part of his responsibilities include participation in different regional and national technical cooperation activities to promote the ratification of the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, as well as to improve its effective implementation. Mr Abril Garcia also actively participates in various IMO projects to assist Member States in the implementation of Maritime Single Windows in their ports.

The Malmö MSc in Maritime Affairs is a 14-month programme with seven specializations: Maritime Education & Training; Maritime Energy Management; Maritime Law & Policy; Maritime Safety & Environmental Administration; Ocean Sustainability, Governance and Management; Port Management, and Shipping Management & Logistics. Foundation studies are taught in the first term and cover the introductory knowledge that is fundamental to all activities in the maritime field. Three successive terms focus on specialization studies and a dissertation. WMU has more than 150 Visiting Lecturers from around the world who contribute their expertise to enrich the education of WMU students.

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