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Port-wide solution for Export Control System (ECS)

As of the 1st of July 2009, all cargo leaving the European Union will be electronically reported via the Export Control System (ECS) of Customs. On Friday the 18th of April, Port infolink presented a port-wide solution to this sizeable challenge to a large group of representatives of shipping companies, terminals, forwarders and exporters. Together with the business community, Port infolink will energetically pick up the development of this new, highly comprehensive service.

�F�r Export von Containern ist der Rotterdamer Hafen ein gro�es schwarzes Loch,� quoted Port infolink�s managing director Iwan van der Wolf the words of a large German forwarder in his introductory address. �A lot can still be gained in this respect,� said Van der Wolf. Although the ECS is an additional Customs requirement, it also offers Rotterdam the opportunity to distinguish itself from the competition by means of proper data exchange in terms of export cargo.

Paperless logistics process
Arie Berkelaar, the senior officer responsible for implementation at Rotterdam Customs, then briefly explained to those present the contents of the ECS and the hinterlying reasons for its introduction. In short, the European Union wants to better ensure that cargo listed on an export declaration actually leaves the EU. The ECS in this respect is aimed at a fast and univocal exchange of data with the business community. �En route to a paperless logistics process,� was the message of Customs. In everyday practice, the ECS means that a notification to Customs � a so-called �Arrival at Exit� � is mandatory the moment cargo arrives at the sea terminal from the hinterland. Before the cargo is then allowed to leave the port again aboard a sea-going vessel, an outgoing manifest must have been submitted. Finally, the actual departure of the vessel from the 12-mile zone must be reported.

Fourfold solution

Although the ECS may at first sight appear simple, the changes in relation to the current practice are substantial. Since the first communication by Customs about the ECS in August 2006, the parties involved have frequently discussed matters such as responsibilities and who should send which information. As a result, manager Marketing & Sales Rianne Groffen was able to present a comprehensive solution which covers the entire ECS process for the business community and offers additional advantages as well. The new Port infolink service comprises four modules in which information already present in the Port Community System is reused as much as possible:

- Module 1 Container Arrival Matching for �Arrival at Exit messages� by the terminal to Customs and for informing all parties about any Customs inspections.
- Module 2 Outgoing manifest, which enables shipping companies/cargo handling agents to easily submit electronic manifests. Groffen: �At present, Rotterdam Customs each week receives one full 20-foot container with unnecessary paperwork. They really want to put an end to this.�
- Module 3 Notification vessel departure, �an expansion of our existing service Vessel notification,� says Groffen.
- Module 4 Track & Trace, with which the exact status of a container can be followed from the terminal up to and including the overseas departure.

�With the new ECS service, Port infolink is creating a generic and cost-efficient solution for the entire Rotterdam port. All terminals can use the Container Arrival Matching module and shipping companies/cargo handling agents can submit outgoing manifests without the need for internal system adjustments. Exporting cargo via Rotterdam will be very surveyable; �das schwarzes Loch� will disappear,� said the Marketing & Sales Manager.

The challenge

That the issue of the ECS is very much on the minds of the business community became apparent from the many questions, remarks and suggestions brought forward by the participants. �The deadline set by Customs for the introduction of the ECS is the 1st of July 2009,� Groffen concluded the meeting. �It will be a major challenge to with each get the new service up and running in just over a year.� She therefore called upon the companies to actively participate in the project group involved in the development of the new service. Twenty companies immediately came forward; the first meeting is currently already being planned.