The customer code is the reference number under which you as a customer (the so-called release-to-party) are known to the shipping line/ship agent. When the shipping line/ship agent announces that your containers will soon be handled via the Secure Chain, they will provide you with this customer code. As a customer of the shipping line/ship agent, you are expected to inform your chain partners about the new operational approach. This allows all parties involved to adequately prepare. You next enter the customer code in the Portbase service Cargo Controller or Cargo Release Manager. The shipping line/ship agent consequently knows that you are ready and will start releasing the containers via the Secure Chain. Please note: if you are a customer of multiple shipping lines/ship agents, you will receive a separate customer code from each of them.