Logistic Single Window Project kick-off
The opening ceremony of the Logistic Single Window (LSW) project, presided by the Portuguese Minister of the Sea, Ana Paula Vitorino, took place on March 2 in the auditorium of the Administration of the Port of Sines and the Ports of the Algarve (APS).
The event was attended by several members of the Government. In addition to the Minister of the Sea, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Eduardo Cabrita, and the Minister of Health, Adalberto Campos Fernandes were present. They were joined by the Secretary of State for Fiscal Affairs, Mendonça Mendes, the Secretary of State for Defense, Marcos Perestrello, the Secretary of State for Infrastructures Guilherme d'Oliveira Martins and the Secretary of State for Fisheries José Apolinário.
Ana Paula Vitorino recalled the long process of digitalisation that occurred in the sector, in particular the work carried out in the development of the Port Single Window (PSW) – a platform for the port area that was concluded before the LSW.
The Minister mentioned the origins of the projec several years back, with the proactive and collaborative work between Ports, Port Authority, Tax Authority, Sanitary Authority and Foreigners and Border Service (SEF), an "essential group that did a remarkable job, with notable people."
Emphasizing the introduction and success of the PSW, Ana Paula Vitorino pointed to the work tp be carried out now within the LSW and the Single Port Invoice (SPI), stating that "these two initiatives bring Portuguese ports into the state of the art in the digital economy ".
At the LSW project kick-off event, the group of companies that will help in the implementation of the project signed the service agreement. These companies are Indra Sistemas Portugal, MARLO, MITMYNID, EGAPI, Xperienz and Andrade Dias & Associados.
The session also had a formal moment in which several entities, including the Director General of DGRM, signed the document that formalises their adhesion to LSW, engaging a set of private operators, associations and even educational entities, namely: Medway, Takargo, Infraestruturas de Portugal, ALB – Área Logística da Bobadela, TVT – Terminal Vale do Tejo, SPC – Serviço Português de Contentores, Aicep Global Parques, Plataforma Logística do Sudoeste Europeu (PLSWE), Zaldesa, Luís Simões, Transportes Três Mosqueteiros, AGEPOR, APAT, APOL, ANTRAM, Ordem dos Despachantes Oficiais, Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal e ENIDH – Escola Superior Náutica Infante D. Henrique.
The Minister of the Sea also "praised the private entities who join us, believing that we are doing the best for our country, our industry, our logistics, and that we are lowering costs and increasing efficiency ". Later, in a conversation with the journalists, Ana Paula Vitorino mentioned her expectation that "many more entities" will join the LSW "as they see the project consolidating".
The deadline for the implementation of LSW in the continental ports is two years and it should later be introduced in the ports of Madeira and the Azores and in the remaining national ports.
The event was also used to formalise the set up of a task force, with representatives from the various relevant ministries, to accelerate a process where hinterland’s logistic platforms act as extensions of the ports themselves – for instance, in order to clear cargo outside port premises.