European Maritime Single Window environment
The system and how to use it
What is EMSWe
One system instead of many forms.
Until now, each Member State — often each port — has had its own requirements and formats for reporting on a ship's arrival, stay, and departure. This has meant re-entering the same data, in a different form, for every port along the route.
EMSWe harmonises this process around three principles: a single dataset, a single reporting interface (Reporting Interface Module), and the "report once" rule — data is submitted once per port call, rather than separately for each requirement.
As national coordinator, the Bulgarian Port Infrastructure Company, through its Vessel Traffic Services Authority "VTS Black Sea", is responsible for maintaining the Bulgarian National Maritime Single Window (BG MNSW) and its connection to the common components maintained by the European Commission and EMSA.
How it works
Many inputs, one window.
Ship agents, carriers, and masters submit data through the national maritime single window of the port of call. It, in turn, exchanges information with other Member States via SafeSeaNet — without the declarant having to submit the same data twice.
Three reporting moments
Life cycle of a port call.
Prior notification
Data on the ship, cargo, crew, and estimated time of arrival are submitted through BG MNSW before entering a Bulgarian port.Customs and port formalities
Presentation of goods to customs, temporary storage declarations, and other formalities are processed within the same harmonised dataset.
Departure notification
Departure is confirmed once, and the data is forwarded to SafeSeaNet for the ship's next port of call.
Expected impact across the EU
Why harmonisation matters
Documents and links for the system