[4][6] On 1 January 2018, the Convention was amended to strengthen requirements applying to stowaways and to shore leave for seafarers.
[8] The FAL Convention sets out international standards and recommended practices for the simplification of national formalities, information requirements and procedures for the arrival of ships in territorial waters, as well as their stay and departure.
[1][10] Since 1 January 2024, the use of the 'Maritime Single Window' (MSW) system is mandatory in all ports, removing all paper-based requirements for information exchange.
[3] The IMO Facilitation Committee (FAL) meets at periodical intervals each year to discuss and review application of the convention.
[12] The Committee assists member States with the implementation of the Maritime Single Window platform and issues appropriate guidelines.