What is ECS? What is the solution offered by Portbase? What do I as exporter/forwarder have to do with the ECS obligations in the port? Do the other ports in Europe have the same ECS solution? What will the Portbase solution cost? Who can make use of the ECS services from Portbase? How and when can I connect to the ECS services? Is Portbase's solution web-based or EDI-based? Is Portbase also going to roll out the ECS services in the rest of the Netherlands? Will Portbase's ECS services also become available in other European ports? How can exporters and forwarders in the rest of Europe connect to the ECS services? Is participation in Portbase’s ECS services in Rotterdam and Amsterdam compulsory? Are the ECS services only suitable for the container segment? In which ports in the Netherlands can Portbase’s ECS services be used? In what form are the message specifications available? What channels can be used to communicate with Portbase? If I want to use FTP for our file transfers, what must I do for an account to be created? If an original message fails or is rejected, would Portbase expect a new original message or a replacement message? I have run all the tests in the scenario you provided. How do I complete the testing period?
‘ECS’ stands for ‘Export Control System’. With this new legislation, the European Union wants to better protect its external borders and strengthen its internal markets. As of 1 July 2009, you as exporter or forwarder in a Member State of the European Union (EU) are obliged to submit your export declarations electronically. In addition, extra Customs obligations have applied in the Dutch ports since 31 January 2010. These allow Dutch Customs authorities to check whether goods actually leave the EU.
Portbase has developed the ECS services in response to the ECS obligations in the Dutch ports. The services can be used in the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam. With five simple items of information from the exporter/forwarder (the ECS notification ), terminals and shipping companies/shipbrokers can quickly and efficiently comply with the new Dutch Customs obligations in these ports. As exporter/forwarder, you are then assured of the 'watertight' validation of your export declarations. In addition, you can track your cargo in real time: from its arrival at the terminal to its departure from the port by ship.
Only after the terminal and shipping company/shipbroker have met the ECS obligations, will you as exporter/forwarder receive a confirmation of exit directly from Customs. This means that your export declaration has been completely validated. Without a confirmation of exit, you as exporter/forwarder run the risk of lots of administrative hassle to try to prove that your cargo has left the EU, or of having VAT levied retrospectively. Portbase offers a simple solution for this with the ECS services.
Each national Customs authority has its own methods for ECS control. Exporters and forwarders need to check carefully ahead of time which obligations apply in which country. The Netherlands is the only country that, via Portbase, is translating the extra Customs obligations into logistic advantages. With the ECS services, you are assured of easy, problem-free exporting.
For exporters and forwarders, participation in the ECS services is free of charge. The shipping companies, shipbrokers and terminals in Rotterdam andmsterdam will be covering a large part of the costs. In addition, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Port of Amsterdam are making a substantial financial contribution.
All the exporters and forwarders in Europe who export via the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam can make use of the ECS services. By means of the ECS services, the shipping lines and terminals are also provided with an extensive package of services. They will first become available for the container sector, with separate ECS services for companies in general cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk introduced at a later stage.
The ECS obligations in the Dutch ports came into effect on 31 January 2010. However, Portbase has agreed to a phased introduction of the ECS services with Customs. Up until 31 March, first the terminals, shipping companies and shipbrokers will be connected. From 1 April 2010, the ECS services will then be made available for exporters and forwarders, when they will be able to register for the ECS services via this website. Until then it will be 'business as usual'.
Participation in the ECS services of the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam can be done simply via the Internet or, even easier, via a system link with your in-house computer system.
The ECS services can currently be used in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Extending the ECS services to other Dutch ports in future is not out of the question, but is currently not in the cards.
Each EU Member State is allowed to choose its own ECS solution. This has already happened everywhere now, so it is unlikely for now that the ECS services will be expanded internationally.
Companies that choose to participate via EDI are connected by their software supplier of their IT department. Companies that choose to participate via the Internet receive a brief set of instructions before the time, and can get going straight away. Registration for participation in the ECS services can be done via this website, during trade fairs, congresses, events and other meetings at which Portbase is present, during individual visits by Portbase to companies or via international partners like Dakosy (the port community system in Hamburg) and dbh (the Port Community system in Bremen).
No, companies can also choose to have their own bilateral solution. However, they then miss out on the many efficiency and cost savings. The shipment can then also not be tracked in the port in real time.
The ECS services on this website have been specifically tailored to the container sector. Portbase offers a separate set of ECS services for companies in liquid bulk, dry bulk and general cargo.
Portbase’s ECS services can be used in the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
The message specifications can be requested here from our website.
You can communicate with us either by email or via FTP.
You can use this application form and return it by E-mail: servicedesk@portbase.com, fax: +31 (10) 252 22 50 or post: Portbase For attention: Service Desk Seattleweg 7 3195 ND Rotterdam The Netherlands
Whenever an original message fails for technical or functional reasons, we would always expect a new original message.
Once the complete scenario is done, you can send your messages to ecs-test@portinfolink.com. Once received, we will review them again. When this is done, we will provide you with your SENDER ID, and, where applicable, information on communication protocols.
