Electronic access to certificates and documents (Coordinated by the U.S.) 

1.  The U.S. POC is Mr. Roger Butturini.

2.  Terms of Reference (from FAL 37/17, paragraph 7.22)

7.22 Noting the desire of delegations to progress the matter, the Committee   re-established the Correspondence Group on Electronic access to certificates and documents, under the coordination of the United States, to continue the work on acceptance of electronic access or electronic versions of certificates and documents, including validation of certificates and documents, and with the following terms of reference:

The Correspondence Group, taking into account the discussions held during FAL 37, documents submitted and the background information since FAL 32, as well as the responses received to the questionnaire on Online access to documents and certificates, should:

.1 prepare objective(s) and define the scope and vision of a system for electronic access or electronic versions of certificates and documents;

.2 identify the potential users and their needs, as well as the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats and benefits of making electronic access or electronic versions of certificates and documents available to supplement or replace original paper certificates or documents, including validation of certificates and documents;

.3 define the minimum features that could be recommended to make electronic access or electronic versions of certificates and documents equivalent to paper documents;

.4 define the recommended features to make electronic access to ship certificates and documents reliable and appropriately secure;

.5 annotate the list of certificates and documents required to be on board ships with the source of the requirement (e.g. Convention) and the IMO Committee responsible for the certificate or document; and

.6 report to FAL 38 on the results of the Correspondence Group's work.

3.  Plan/Supplementary Information

A. What are the pros and cons of relying on electronic versions of certificates?

B. What are the security features of electronic versions of certificates?

C. What are the security features of web sites used to view certificates?

4.  Reference Documents

FAL.2/Circ.123/MEPC.1/Circ.769/MSC.1/Circ.1409 –Revised list of certificates and documents required to be carried on board ships

Circular Letter 2953 - Communication from Liberia [re: use of electronic versions of certificates and documents]

5.  Draft Correspondence Group Materials  

There are no drafts at this time.

6. Correspondence Group Report

FAL 38-05 Report of the Correspondence Group: E-Business Possibilities For The Facilitation of Maritime Traffic