IAPH and IPCSA formalise digitalisation agreement

The International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) and International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA) have formalised a working relationship aimed at developing a common digital infrastructure for supply chain resilience in ports handling containers.

The two parties have held regular meetings and discussed ideas and protocols for four years or so and the official signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) followed a 1.5 hour round table discussion entitled “Data harmonisation for port call optimisation and supply chain resilience” that included representatives from the national Ports Authority of Peru, Port of Los Angeles, Port of Rotterdam, Maritime Port Authority of Singapore, Wartsila and the furniture/household goods retailer IKEA, convened at the IAPH’s World Ports Conference 2026, held in London last week.

Commenting on the new agreement, Patrick Verhoeven, managing director of IAPH, said: “The adoption and effective implementation of Port Community Systems (PCS) and Maritime Single Window (MSW) solutions is critical to the industry’s future. IPCSA is a valued long-term collaborator with IAPH and this MoU takes the partnership to the next stage – ensuring the port industry’s critical role in fostering a cybersecure and digitally resilient supply chain.”

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