IMO S Facilitation Committee 49th session (FAL 49) was held from 10th to 14th March 2025. Key outcomes from the meeting are as follows:

1. Approved the New IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business
FAL 49 approved a new version of the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business. The IMO Compendium is a reference model to ensure maritime data is standardized and consistently formatted, and can be recognized and understood across the ships’ IT systems. It is to facilitate smooth operations, improve the process of port calls, and support Maritime Single Windows (MSWs). The revision includes new IMO data sets related to the following:
(1) Electronic bunker delivery note; 
(2) Electronic bill of landing; 
(3) Transport of dangerous goods;  

(4) Container inspection programme.

The new version also included IMO dataset on fuel oil consumption and CII reporting.
The work to maintain the IMO Compendium is carried out by the Expert Group on Data Harmonization (EGDH). FAL instructed the EGDH group to provide additional guidance on how to use the compendium and propose sub-models to be included. IMO data sets will be considered by EGDH in the future as follows: 
(1) Crew certificates; 
(2) Meteorological and oceanographic data collected by use of Voluntary Observing Ships; 
(3) Delivery bill for mail consignment;  
(4) Ship sanitation control certificate.  

FAL 49 formed a correspondent group to work on the drafting and development of high-level business process flows and descriptions for each dataset in the IMO Compendium. The group will further report to FAL 50.

2. Development of the new Guidelines on Electronic Certificates
FAL 49 has approved the joint FAL-LEG-MEPC-MSC Guidelines for the use of electronic certificates, and it will be forwarded to MEPC 83, MSC 110, and LEG 112 for concurrent approval. The content may include: 
 A list of features that electronic certificates need to have (recognized and accepted format, protected from edits, provided with a unique ID number, etc.);
 Instructions for verification, notification, acceptance, implementation, and security.
The government and the port authority will need to communicate which certificates, taken from the list in FAL.2/Circ.133-MEPC.1/Circ.902-MSC.1/Circ.1646-LEG.2/Circ.4, will be issued by them or on their behalf, in an electronic form. All stakeholders, including Port State Control officers (PSCOs), should accept such electronic certificates then. The strategy will include different areas of IMO’s work and is expected to be adopted by the IMO Assembly by the end of 2027, during its 35th Session.   

3. IMO Strategy on Maritime Digitalization
FAL has approved the work plan for the development of a comprehensive IMO Strategy on Maritime Digitalization, which aims at harnessing emerging technologies to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability in the shipping industry. 
FAL formed a Correspondence Group to continue work to define the strategy’s scope, key objectives, and implementation framework. The Correspondence Group will work over the coming year to identify existing and emerging technologies, standards, and methodologies that can support maritime digitalization, while ensuring alignment across IMO’s various committees, and will submit a report for consideration at the next session Committee (FAL 50).

4. Approved the revision of the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) road map
The non-mandatory International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS Code) will be finalized and adopted in MSC 111, and FAL expects it will enter into force in 2026.
For the next step, it will then be followed by an experience-building phase (its framework is expected to be developed at MSC 112), which will form the basis for future developments on a new mandatory MASS Code. The earliest date for the Code to enter into force will be in 2032. MSC 108 (2024) gave an instruction to the FAL Committee to revise the MASS Code road map, taking into account any other relevant issues.