A. General Information
1. Title
European Maritime Single Window Environment (EMSWe)
2. Status of the project
Operating
3. Implementation period of the project/service:
From
August 2025
To
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5. Geographical coverage
Regional: Europe
6. Participating agencies/entities of the project/service:
a. Development stage
Lead agencies/entities
European Commission (DG MOVE), European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
Other participating agencies/entities
National Coordinators of EU member states
b. Operational stage
Lead agencies/entities (op)
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
Other participating agencies/entities (op)
Maritime National Single Windows (MNSWs) of each EU member state
7. Main stakeholders/beneficiaries of the project
Traders (big enterprises)
Traders (SMEs)
Transport
Customs
Other Government Agencies (OGAs)
8. Business process category of the project
Regulatory/official control
B. Lessons Learned
9. Summary description of the project/service
Brief Summary
The European Maritime Single Window environment (EMSWe), established by EU Regulation 2019/1239, creates a common, interoperable environment across all EU maritime national single windows (MNSWs), enabling ships to report all mandatory information to shore during a port call through a single digital channel. The Regulation applies from August 2025 and is coordinated by EMSA together with national maritime authorities.
a. Objective(s)
To harmonise and simplify the reporting of information by ships arriving at and departing from EU ports by providing a single digital reporting environment, eliminating the need for ships to adapt reporting practices for each member state.
b. Business need for the project (background)
Prior to EMSWe, each EU member state operated its own Maritime National Single Window with different formats and requirements. Ships were required to submit the same information repeatedly in different formats across different member states, creating significant administrative burden estimated at 2.5 million work hours per year.
c. Business process covered*
Ship operator submits all mandatory arrival/departure reports (crew/passenger lists, cargo manifests, waste notifications, dangerous goods declarations) electronically through the national MNSW → MNSW routes data to relevant national authorities → information shared across EU via EMSA-maintained common databases (Ship Database, Hazmat Database, Location Database).
d. Overall architecture and functionalities*
Decentralised environment: each member state maintains its own MNSW; EMSA provides central common databases and harmonised interfaces via the Reporting Interface Module (RIM). A harmonised dataset (EU Delegated Regulation 2023/205) covers all mandatory reporting obligations, mapped to international standards. Message Implementation Guide (MIG) v2.0.1 published December 2025.
e. Relevant document/figure
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10. Documents and data exchanged via the project
Ship arrival/departure notifications / Crew and passenger lists / Cargo manifests / Waste notifications / Dangerous goods declarations / Customs manifests (exit and temporary storage)
11. Data models/databases, proprietary solutions, hybrid approaches
Harmonised EMSWe dataset established by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/205, as amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/674, mapped to international standards; EMSA common databases include the Ship Database, Common Location Database, Common Hazmat Database and the Ship Sanitation Database under development.
12. Main challenges faced during the project
Implementation timing varies significantly across member states — synchronised rollout was not achieved. National implementation including testing is expected to take up to 18 months from the application date.
13. Lessons learned from the project
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14. Main benefit(s) of the project
Enhanced regulatory compliance*
Transaction Cost savings*
Transaction Time savings
Simplified process
14A. Elaborations/detailed description on benefits gained
EMSWe is estimated to save up to 2.5 million work hours per year, equivalent to €69 million in value, by enabling ships to report all mandatory information through a single channel in all EU ports without repetitive submissions.
15. Technical/financial/capacity building/other assistance
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16. Future plan for expansion of the project
Expansion of the EMSWe dataset with additional reporting obligations; further development of the Ship Sanitation Database; ongoing alignment with IMO FAL Convention digital standards.
17. Other information or relevant references on the project
EMSWe replaces the previous MSW Directive (2010/65/EU), which was formally repealed on 15 August 2025. The regulation establishes a common EMSWe information framework including the Ship Database, Common Location Database and Common Hazmat Database. The Ship Sanitation Database is being developed as an additional common database within the EMSWe framework.
18. Relevant document regarding the project
C. Relevant Standards
19. Name(s) of any international, national legal instrument underpinning the project
EU Regulation 2019/1239 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 establishing a European Maritime Single Window environment / IMO FAL Convention (Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic)
20. Electronic message standard
20A. Electronic message standard supporting the project
XML:
- Other XML format: EMSWe harmonised XML dataset aligned with UNECE MMT D.24A (Multi-Modal Transport Reference Data Model), defined in EMSA Message
20B. Type of standard for electronic message applied for the project
International standard
21. Technical communication standard
21A. Technical communication standard supporting the project
HTTP
21B. Type of technical communication standard applied for the project
International standard
22. Security-related standards*
22A. Security-related standard supporting the project
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22B. Type of security-related standard applied for the project
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23. Other Technical Information
23A. Interface developed for data exchange with an internal system
Ship operator systems → Maritime National Single Window (MNSW) → EMSA common databases (Ship DB, Location DB, Hazmat DB) via Reporting Interface Module (RIM)
23B. Other technical implementation information
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Last Update: 8 September 2026