Ukraine intends to introduce a Ports Community Information System (PCIS), which has been tested at the Odessa merchant seaport. The Cabinet of Ministers resolution No. 553 dated July 3, 2013 approved the relevant decision, the press service of the Ministry of Infrastructure reports.
The ministry expects the PCIS to facilitate simplification of the conditions for passage of cargo through Ukrainian ports, which will increase the competitiveness of ports and enable them to attract additional cargo traffic. Introduction of PCIS will also minimize paperwork.
The participants in the PCIS will be the ports, carriers, shipping agents, and freight forwarders, as well as customs, sanitary, veterinary, quarantine, and other services. Port contractors will be able to share, check, and process information, perform transactions, and create the electronic documents necessary for inspection and clearance of goods and vehicles during cargo transport.
The Administration of Seaports of Ukraine is responsible for administration and coordination of the system. In general, the system is considered as a mandatory mechanism to be used by all the participants in the transport process.
The testing of the PCIS began at the Odessa merchant seaport in October 2012. During its testing, the Odessa port received and processed more than 35,000 electronic orders. Work has already begun on implementation of the system at the Ilyichevsk seaport.
The Odessa seaport intends to stop accepting paper orders from September 2 this year and switch to electronic orders.
