On-line port clearance for vessels  

As part of its on-going efforts to enhance the range of services offered to the shipping community, the Marine Department of Peninsular Malaysia has developed an IT-based application system to facilitate on-line port clearance for vessels calling at local ports.

The development of the application system which operates on the Internet platform is aimed at doing away with the manual submission of the relevant information and documents which shipping lines and their agents are required to submit to the Marine Department for clearance of the vessels to enter and leave Malaysian waters.

To participate in the system, the Department requires applicants to be registered at the following address: Unit Perkhidmatan Pelabuhan, Bahagian Hal Ehwal Pelaut & Pelabuhan, Ibu Pejabat Laut, Semanjung Malaysia, Peti Surat 12, 42007 Pelabuhan Kelang, Selangor, Malaysia.

There is no registration fee application for users of the system.

Users are however required to ensure the computer system they use allows Internet accessibility and operates Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 5.0 software.

The Marine Department said data entry for MSS1(arrival) and MSS2 (departure) into the application system will be made at the company's own premise.

For the first transaction with the Marine Department, statutory documents (or changes made thereto) must be verified for its authenticity by officers of the Department at their premises. For subsequent transaction, the application can be made at the company's own premise via Internet.

There is no collection of fees except that all existing fees must be paid in full before port clearance is transmitted to the relevant party.

The Marine Department said document for port clearance can be printed at the company's own premise prior to submitting to Jabatan Kastam & Eksais Di Raja. The system was put into operation beginning September 2000.