scope:

Within the context of this document, EPC (Electronic port clearance) are the activites that a user, such as a ship's master, a shipping agency or a ship owner undertakes to submit electronic data to appropriate organisations that will approve or reject the clearance for the ship to enter or leave port. This document contains necessary and guidance information related to EPC, such as message transmission requirements, business scenarios, message structures and software requirements. Infromative Annex A provides implementation advice for a single window (SW). Informative Annex B suggests a methodology for the development of a single window. The normative part of this standard defines XML message structures for transmission of information between a ship or its representatives and certain organisations responsible for the processing of the ship's port clearance request. The information to be transferred is that which is defined by the FAL Convention and other related international instruments as identified by ISO 28005-2. These message structures are primary intended for machine to machine data transfers. This standard allows different configurations of the SW, from a minimum solution to support basic clearance requirements to a more complex system to facilitate more extensive cooperation between ship and shore organisations.