Port+Management

Ports and airports are locations where high volumes of cargo are transported and stored for export and import. Trade facilitation measures are vital here, since there is intensive interaction between the responsible authorities and businesses. Together with large volumes of goods, there is high information traffic between authorities and businesses, requiring constant liaison between the port actors (shipping lines, agents, terminals, stevedores, freight forwarders, road and rail carriers) to organize the loading, unloading and storage of goods, and procedures with port and other authorities and Customs. Port control monitors the arrival, stay and departure of ships, and controls the security of the ships and their compliance with IMO and other maritime regulations (such as dangerous waste disposal).

Role of IT systems
The management of information exchanges in maritime hubs is often centralized in Port Community Systems, which offer a relatively low cost system for exchanges between all parties and the ports, with the authorities and with the hinterland. In a way Port Community Systems are forms of Single Windows. Airports have a smaller volume of goods, but they are on average of higher value with more urgent timelines. Also, common centralized systems have been developed, e.g. Airport Community System s, which abide by IATA and ICAO rules.