Secure-chain.eu – As of the 31st of March 2024, shipping lines/ship agents will securely and reliably release all import containers arriving in the port of Rotterdam from Latin America without a PIN code via the Secure Chain. Any link in the logistics chain that is not ready for this in time will not be able to collect their container or have it collected at the terminal.
In the autumn of 2023, the participating shipping lines/ship agents effectively started connecting their customers and the underlying chains to the Secure Chain, starting with cargo from Latin America. To give some parties in the logistics chain more time to prepare – especially for system adjustments – the deadline for participation has now been set at the 31st of March 2024. Should parties with cargo from Latin America still not be able to adjust their systems in time, then they have the option to make use of a web service.
This transition period does not mean a postponement. Customers will be continuously connected until the deadline of the 31st of March 2024. From that date onwards, all cargo from Latin America will definitely only be released securely and reliably via the Secure Chain. Regardless of whether the cargo in question involves merchant haulage or carrier haulage and whether the containers are collected at the deepsea terminals in Rotterdam by road, barge or rail. In consultation with the shipping line/ship agent and the customer, cargo from other sailing areas can also already be handled via the Secure Chain. Once all customers with cargo from Latin America have been connected to the Secure Chain by the 31st of March 2024, the shipping line/ship agent will focus on the participation of their top 100 customers during the next phase.
Each shipping line/ship agent will individually contact their customers for participation in the Secure Chain. The Secure Chain works in a very straightforward manner but does require action on the part of every link. Have you not yet been contacted by the shipping line/ship agent? Don’t wait, you can already start preparing right now! All the information you require is available at www.secure-chain.eu.
Secure Chain
The Secure Chain is a joint initiative of the business community and government agencies for the more secure and reliable release and collection of containers in Dutch ports. The Secure Chain will first be implemented in Rotterdam. From the shipping line/ship agent via the shipper/forwarder and the inland operator, a closed chain is formed in the Secure Chain which only comprises familiar, authorised parties. The use of PIN codes will be eliminated. Only an inland operator that has been authorised via the Secure Chain is able to pre-notify their arrival at the terminal and collect the container there. The Secure Chain largely works through the services of Portbase, the Port Community System of the Dutch ports.
Participating shipping lines/ship agents
CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping, Maersk, MSC, ONE, OOCL and ZIM are the shipping lines/ship agents that serve Rotterdam from Latin America. HMM, Yang Ming and (soon) Evergreen are also already live with the Secure Chain. This way, companies that use multiple shipping lines can already switch to the Secure Chain for their cargo from all sailing areas in one go before the 31st of March 2024 if desired.
