FAL Convention & its standardized forms
Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL)
The Convention’s main objectives are to prevent unnecessary delays in maritime traffic, to aid co-operation between Governments, and to secure the highest practicable degree of uniformity in formalities and other procedures.
In particular, the Convention reduces the number of declarations which can be required by public authorities.
The IMO Standardized Forms
The documents which public authorities can demand of a ship and recommends the maximum information and number of copies which should be required. IMO has developed Standardized Forms for seven of these documents:
1) IMO General Declaration
2) Cargo Declaration
3) Ship’s Stores Declaration
4) Crew’s Effects Declaration
5) Crew List Passenger List
6) Dangerous Goods
7) Two other documents are required under the Universal Postal Convention and the
International Health Regulations. (Health Declaration Form)