Maritime Single Window Gains Momentum Across African Ports
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) and the World Bank, working with Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Transport, held a sub-regional workshop in Abidjan from 9 to 12 December to support the rollout of the Maritime Single Window (MSW) in 12 French-speaking African countries.
The Maritime Single Window is a shared digital platform that allows ships, port authorities and government agencies to exchange information through one system. It reduces paperwork and duplication by bringing all reporting requirements into a single channel. This helps ships enter, stay in and leave ports faster, while improving efficiency, transparency and compliance.
The workshop was organized with the support of key regional port bodies, including the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA), the Union of Port Administrations of Northern Africa (UAPNA), and the African Harbour Masters Committee.
A total of 79 participants, including 20 women, attended the event. They came from maritime administrations, port authorities and customs agencies in Benin, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritania, Senegal and Togo.
The main goal was to build shared understanding of how to implement MSW systems effectively. Participants exchanged lessons and good practices from IMO-led needs assessments carried out in several African countries. These assessments reviewed existing ship and cargo clearance systems, identified common gaps, and proposed clear recommendations to guide MSW development.
Countries also presented their current port digital systems, allowing participants to learn from each other’s progress and challenges. Discussions highlighted that MSW is not just a software solution, but a key part of a wider trade facilitation system that requires regional cooperation, aligned policies and strong institutions.
The workshop helped participants better understand the IMO Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention), improve coordination among port actors, and clarify financing and policy needs for MSW implementation. This knowledge will help countries move faster in setting up their systems.
Source : MOESNA
