Bremerhaven will host the international PCO Network Meeting (PCO = Port Call Optimisation) from 7 to 9 September 2026. Around 70 participants from ports, international organisations and the maritime industry are expected to attend. The event is being hosted by the Ports of Bremen & Bremerhaven under the leadership of the Port Authority Bremen.
Port Call Optimisation focuses on improving the coordination of ship calls. Common data standards, reliable timing information and clearly defined information flows are intended to make the arrival, stay and departure of ships safer and more predictable.
One of the reasons for the meeting is the publication of the Port Call Optimisation Guide in March 2026. The guide was developed by experts from ports, shipping and maritime organisations and published by the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and the International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA). More than 40 maritime organisations support the guide. It was presented in March to the Facilitation Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO FAL 50) in London.
The guide provides an internationally agreed framework for the electronic exchange of key navigational and operational data relating to a port call. It builds on existing standards developed by the IMO, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), bringing them together in a common framework for practical use by ports and shipping.
The focus in Bremerhaven will now be on practical implementation. The agenda includes experiences from initial applications, technical standards, data infrastructures, testbeds and quality criteria for navigational and operational data. Contributions will come from organisations including IAPH, IHMA and IHO, as well as the ports of Gothenburg, Tema and Rotterdam and companies from the maritime industry.
Another key focus will be on how the quality and success of Port Call Optimisation can be measured. Discussions will centre on indicators for data quality and on whether the agreed data can contribute to more predictable operations, reduced waiting times and improved coordination.
Stephan Berger, Harbour Master and Head of the Port Authority Bremen: “We are delighted to have brought the PCO Network Meeting to Bremerhaven following previous meetings in Rotterdam and Valencia. Around 70 international participants will come together here to discuss the next steps in implementing the PCO Guide. For the Ports of Bremen, this is a valuable opportunity to contribute to international expert discussions while also demonstrating that Port Call Optimisation is already a very practical task for us.”
The Ports of Bremen have also been working intensively on Port Call Optimisation for some time. The Port Authority Bremen contributes the perspective of the competent authority, particularly with regard to the safety and efficiency of vessel traffic, to the international expert discussions and is involved in the further development and practical implementation of common standards.
Robert Howe, Managing Director of bremenports: “With the PCO project Digi Weser, we have already taken the first steps. The project, supported by TÜV Rheinland and coordinated by bremenports, is part of the ‘Digital Testbed’ programme funded by the Federal Ministry for Transport. Together with the Port Authority Bremen and other partners, our aim is to develop a digital platform to improve processes and coordination between shipping companies, port authorities, locks, pilots, tug operators and terminals. The international expertise brought together at this meeting, organised by Harbour Master Stephan Berger, can only help us in this endeavour.”
Media representatives wishing to report from the meeting or record statements on site are asked to contact Harbour Master Stephan Berger at [email protected] for coordination.
