Iran’s drive to digitize its maritime sector took center stage at an IMO regional gathering in Batumi, Georgia, where Tehran presented its homegrown Maritime Single Window (MSW) and Integrated Maritime Management System (IMAS). The September 2026 meeting brought together officials from Caspian and Black Sea states, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Romania, and Iran.
Representing Iran, Soheila Shibani-Moghaddam, a senior ICT and smart ports expert, and Hossein Sedighi, head of Bushehr Port Affairs at the Ports and Maritime Organization, outlined how the country has rolled out its MSW. Their presentation focused on Iran’s technical gains in digitalizing maritime services and the operational lessons learned so far.
A key highlight was IMAS, a national platform developed by Iranian specialists. According to the delegation, the system can deliver maritime services and enable electronic data exchange with stakeholders—an approach aligned with IMO requirements and MSW data standards. The fact that IMAS was built domestically, and that its communications are largely electronic, drew praise from IMO experts and regional representatives.
The Batumi workshop also tackled data standardization, electronic information-sharing among agencies, FAL Convention and IMO Compendium requirements, national MSW strategies, and Port Community Systems (PCS), as well as prospects for regional cooperation.
The timing reflects a broader regulatory shift. Since January 1, 2024, the IMO has required member states to implement MSW for electronic exchange of ship arrival and departure information under amendments to the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL). Iran’s experience therefore fits its wider push toward smart port services, integrated data, and smoother maritime and port procedures. The participation of an Iranian female expert in a high-level maritime technology panel also underscored the country’s professional capacity in the field.
