Port Call Optimisation: The PCO Guide Takes Effect April 1, 2026

TL;DR: The Port Call Optimisation (PCO) Guide V1.0, published by IAPH and IHMA, becomes mandatory April 1, 2026. It's the first global standard for port call data sharing, endorsed by 40+ maritime organisations. Properly implemented port call optimisation can cut fuel consumption by up to 20% per voyage, reduce waiting times, and slash emissions. Innovez One participated in the Port Call Optimization Task Force that developed these standards.

Introduction

The maritime industry just got its first global rulebook for how ships and ports talk to each other. On March 17, 2026, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and the International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA) published the Port Call Optimisation Guide V1.0. Starting April 1, this becomes the standard that port authorities, ship operators, and logistics providers will follow until 2031.

Why does this matter? Because the old way of coordinating port calls was chaos. Each port operated differently. Ships didn't know when berths would free up. Tugboat companies guessed at when they'd be needed. Pilots scheduled manually. Everyone wasted fuel, time, and money.

The PCO Guide changes that. It defines exactly which data ports and ships must share electronically. It's been endorsed by 40+ organisations including BIMCO, ICS, Intertanko, Intercargo, and the World Bank. Port call optimisation isn't optional anymore. It's the standard.

What is a Port Call? A Quick Definition

A port call is when a ship enters a port, stays to load or discharge cargo (or both), and leaves. Sounds simple, but the coordination is massive. You're juggling berth space, pilot availability, tugboat scheduling, customs clearance, weather windows, and crew handovers. Get one variable wrong and your ship sits idle, burning fuel and missing onward schedules.

Port call optimisation means giving everyone involved the data they need to plan intelligently. Ships know when berths open. Ports know when pilots are available. Operators know how many tugs they'll need. It's port call management and coordination at scale. We covered the fundamentals in our earlier guide to port call optimization, but the PCO Guide raises the bar significantly.

How Does the PCO Guide Define Port Call Data?

The Guide splits port call information into two buckets.

Nautical data covers safe port entry. This includes vessel dimensions, cargo type, draft, equipment, weather observations, and navigation requirements. Harbour masters need this to check if a ship can safely enter and where it should go.

Operational data covers planning and coordination. This includes ETA, ETD, berth requirements, equipment needs (tugs, pilots, linesmen), estimated cargo volumes, and service requests. Berth planners, towage operators, and pilotage services need this to schedule efficiently.

Administrative data (customs, hazmat documentation, crew changes) sits outside the Guide's scope for now. The aim was to tackle the biggest coordination problems first, not to solve everything at once.

The Guide relies on IMO, ISO, and IHO international standards as its foundation, so it's technically robust and already aligned with other maritime frameworks.

What is Port Call Optimisation and Why Does It Matter?

Port call optimisation means coordinating all the moving parts of a port visit so nothing wastes time or fuel. Instead of the ship pulling into port and waiting for a berth, pilots, tugs, and dock crew to assemble, those resources are lined up just in time.

Think of it like an operating theatre scheduling. A surgeon doesn't stand around waiting for instruments. The instruments arrive when needed. In ports, a ship shouldn't idle waiting for a berth that wasn't needed until the last minute.

The International Maritime Organization estimates that just-in-time port call coordination could cut fuel consumption by up to 20% per voyage. The Port of Rotterdam, Maersk, and MSC ran a trial where 9% less fuel was consumed in the JIT scenario. The Port of Algeciras achieved 40% reduction in idle time and saved 32.9 tonnes of CO2 per ship call.

Multiply those savings across global container shipping, and we're talking about cutting annual emissions by roughly 5%, which equals about 17 million tonnes of CO2. That's equivalent to taking millions of cars off the road.

Port call optimisation also means faster port calls. Ships dock on schedule. Cargo moves quicker. Supply chains become more reliable. Operators hit their service commitments without burning extra fuel to make up for idle time.

What's Inside the PCO Guide V1.0?

The PCO Guide is a technical document, but its core message is simple. It specifies the minimum set of data that must be shared electronically between ports and ships, and in what format.

The Guide covers:

• Vessel particulars. Ship name, IMO number, dimensions, tonnage, draft, hazmat notation, and communication contact.

• Cargo manifest. What's being loaded or discharged, quantities, hazardous properties, special handling needs.

• ETA and operations plan. When the ship will arrive, how long it needs to stay, which berth it wants, and what services it needs (pilots, tugs, linesmen, etc.).

• Service requirements. Number of pilots, tugs, lines handlers, and any special equipment.

• Port infrastructure availability. Berth status, pilot availability, tugboat readiness, and scheduling slots.

All this data flows electronically. No phone calls. No email chains. No data entry mistakes. Just structured, standardised information that every system can read.

The Guide specifies the data elements, definitions, units, and formats. It's based on DCSA standards for JIT port call coordination and aligned with IMO, ISO, and IHO conventions.

One critical detail: the Guide doesn't mandate a single software platform. Ports can use different systems. The standard guarantees that data from one system will work with data from another, regardless of vendor.

Why Did It Take So Long to Have a Global Standard?

For decades, each port invented its own system. A ship operator might file ETA data with Rotterdam using one format, Hamburg using another, Singapore using a third. Software vendors built custom bridges between systems, and even then, things got lost in translation.

The PCO Guide targets decades of fragmentation in port call data standards. Before now, there was no single agreed-upon list of data elements, definitions, or formats. The IAPH and IHMA assembled experts from shipping lines, port authorities, towage operators, pilots, customs, and software vendors to hammer out what actually needed to be shared.

That task force included Innovez One, where we contributed experience in how data flows through real port operations. We helped define which data elements matter for berth allocation, tugboat scheduling, and pilotage coordination. The insights came directly from running marineM in active ports.

The result is a Guide that's practical, not theoretical. It comes from people who actually operate ports and ships.

How Should Ports Implement the PCO Guide?

Implementation isn't a one-day flip. The Guide becomes the standard on April 1, 2026, but adoption will happen over several months or longer depending on port size and existing systems.

First, audit your current data flows. Map which information you're already capturing, which is missing, and which is in the wrong format. Do you have pilot availability real-time? Do you know tugboat ETAs? Can berth status be queried automatically?

Second, check your systems. If you're using a legacy spreadsheet-based port operating system, you'll need to upgrade to something that can exchange data electronically. Modern port management information systems are built to handle this natively.

Third, test with your partners. Ship operators, pilots, tugs, and linesmen all need to be able to send and receive data in the Guide format. Run parallel testing before you go live. Make sure data that comes in is complete and accurate.

Finally, train your people. Your berth planners, harbour masters, and operations controllers need to understand the new data and how to use it. A modern Berth Planner should surface this data automatically, but staff still need to know what it means and how to respond.

Port Call Optimisation Success Stories

Results speak louder than standards. Ports that have optimised their port calls are seeing real gains.

Port of Rotterdam, Maersk, and MSC ran a trial on just-in-time port call coordination. They tested whether ships could optimise speed en route, arriving exactly when berths and services would be ready. Result: 9% less fuel consumed. For a large container ship, that's tens of thousands of dollars in fuel savings per voyage.

Port of Algeciras implemented better coordination between berth scheduling and ship arrival. Ships were no longer arriving to find no berth available. Result: 40% reduction in idle time and 32.9 tonnes of CO2 saved per call. Multiply that by thousands of annual calls, and it becomes significant.

Portsmouth International Port adopted marineM to coordinate berth planning, pilotage, and towage. Before, information was scattered across email and phone calls. Now, pilots and towage operators see exactly what's coming and when. Berth conflicts get resolved faster. Ships dock on time.

Port of Cork launched marineM in late 2025, ushering in a new era of smart port operations. By centralising vessel scheduling, berth allocation, and service coordination onto a single platform, Cork now has the digital foundation that the PCO Guide calls for. It's a textbook example of a port getting ahead of the standard before it takes effect.

These aren't theoretical. They're operating ports, shipping companies, and towage operators working with real ships and real schedules. The PCO Guide codifies the practices that made those wins possible.

How Innovez One Supports Port Call Optimisation

We've been in this conversation from the start. Innovez One was a contributing participant in the Port Call Optimization Task Force that developed the PCO Guide standards. We didn't just watch. We shaped the standard based on real experience running marineM in ports like Portsmouth.

Our port management information system is built on port call optimisation principles. It connects every part of the port operation: berth allocation, pilotage, towage, billing, vessel scheduling. Data flows freely between modules. No silos. No manual re-entry.

Our Berth Planner visualises your port call schedule days in advance. You can see conflicts and bottlenecks before they happen. Our Marine Services Planner coordinates pilots, tugs, and linesmen in a single calendar. And with AI-driven scheduling, port call management becomes proactive rather than reactive.

And here's the key: marineM is built to exchange data in the formats that the PCO Guide specifies. When the Guide takes effect, ports running marineM will be ready. When ships start sending ETA data in the new standard format, marineM will consume it automatically. No custom coding. No integration headaches.

What Happens After April 1, 2026?

The Guide takes effect on April 1 and runs through April 1, 2031. That five-year window is the first version. During that time, the standard will mature. Ports and ship operators will experiment with different coordination strategies. The industry will learn what works and what doesn't.

By 2031, expect a V2 that might extend the scope. Administrative data (customs, hazmat) could be included. Real-time track and trace might be standardised. Carbon accounting might be built into the framework.

For now, focus on V1. Get your data organised. Upgrade your systems. Test with your partners. Train your team.

The maritime industry has spent decades wasting fuel and time waiting for a global standard. The PCO Guide is it. The clock starts April 1.

FAQ: Port Call Optimisation and the PCO Guide

What's the difference between port call optimisation and port management?

Port management is the overall operation of the port: maintaining facilities, managing staff, handling cargo equipment. Port call optimisation is the coordination of individual ship visits. You can have good port management but poor port call optimisation if data isn't shared efficiently. Our port management information system helps with both by keeping all port call data central and accessible.

Do I have to use the PCO Guide if I run a small port?

The PCO Guide is the international standard, but compliance requirements may vary by region or port authority. Check with your regulatory body. That said, even small ports benefit from better data sharing. Manual processes don't scale, and the less data you capture, the harder it is to optimise. A port management information system with built-in PCO support removes the complexity.

How much does it cost to implement the PCO Guide?

The Guide itself is free. Implementation costs depend on your systems. If you're using legacy spreadsheets, you'll need to upgrade to modern software. If you already have a digital port management information system that supports the standard, the costs are mainly training and process adjustment. Long-term, faster port calls and lower fuel costs for your partners mean happier customers and better retention.

Can I implement the PCO Guide on my own, or do I need a vendor?

You could theoretically build your own implementation, but why? The Guide is technical, and getting it wrong means wasted effort. Most ports work with a software vendor who has already built PCO compliance into their system. That way, you're adopting proven practices instead of inventing your own.

What if one of my partners (a pilot, a towage operator) doesn't support the PCO Guide?

Start with the partners you can. Send them data in the new format. If they can't receive it automatically, give them a dashboard where they can see it. Over time, pressure will build. Other competitors will adopt the standard and offer better service. Your non-compliant partner will eventually have to catch up or lose business.

Conclusion: The Time to Act Is Now

The PCO Guide is here. It's endorsed by the world's biggest shipping companies, port operators, and industry bodies. It's the standard for the next five years.

If you're running a port, you'll need to adopt it. If you're operating ships, you'll benefit from sending data in the standard format. If you're providing a service (tugs, pilots, linesmen), you'll be able to coordinate better and faster.

Port call optimisation isn't a nice-to-have anymore. It's the standard. Ships are burning millions of tonnes of fuel while waiting for berths that could have been ready. Pilots are scheduling manually instead of receiving real-time data. Ports are missing out on emissions reductions and faster turnarounds.

The question isn't whether you'll adopt the PCO Guide. It's when, and whether you'll do it now or scramble later.

If you're ready to implement port call optimisation in your operation, marineM is built for it. Our port management information system connects every part of your port call workflow and exchanges data in the PCO Guide format.

Book a demo of marineM today and see how real port call optimisation works.