KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 — Port authorities will bear development costs of the Maritime Single Window (MMSW) database, said the Transport Ministry.
Minister Anthony Loke said the endeavour, which is expected to cost about RM20 million, is in line with the need for speed in business.
He said the MMSW will solve issues such as entry and exit delays for cargo.
“Delays in the release of cargo are costly to traders,” he said in a press conference after launching the Global Shippers Roundtable here today.
The roundtable was themed Navigating the Waves of Unpredictability: Building Shippers’ Resilience for the Next Normal.
The minister said all International Maritime Organisation (IMO) members are required to develop their MMSW by January 1 to enable all information needed for the public authorities in connection with the arrival, stay and departure of ships, people, and cargo to be transmitted via an electronic system.
“With the MMSW, we aim to fulfil the obligation to the IMO and increase ports’ efficiency.
“We hope this will reduce bureaucracy, increase port effectiveness, cut down operation time and lighten costs for shippers,” Loke said.
Earlier, the minister said local ports have to deal with 12 enforcement agencies before ships can dock.
He said the MMSW will be introduced at the Klang and Johor ports by year-end.
— Bernama
