news Electronic reporting obligation for seagoing vessels in smaller ports

02 May 2019

From 21 December 2019, seagoing vessels must also report electronically in smaller ports in the Netherlands. The municipalities of these smaller ports will use the reporting systems of nearby larger ports for this.

When visiting a port, seagoing vessels must report to the competent authority of the port, Customs and Border Control (e.g. Seaport Police). In the larger Dutch ports, an electronic reporting obligation has been in place for this for several years. In smaller ports, seagoing vessels are currently allowed to report 'on paper'. Due to a change in legislation, seagoing vessels must also report electronically in smaller ports from 21 December 2019. This applies to visits to berths under management by municipalities or other authorities, and to visits to berths under private management such as companies.

This extension of the duty to report does not mean a change in the procedures for the introduction, introduction and exit of goods.

Use existing reporting systems for large ports

For electronic reporting in smaller ports, municipalities will use the existing reporting systems of nearby larger ports:

  • PCS (Port Community System) for ports in municipalities in the Groningen, Friesland, Overijssel, Rotterdam and hinterland regions (PCS is used by the port authority of Rotterdam, Harlingen and Groningen Seaports)

  • Port Visit for ports in municipalities in the Den Helder region (Port Visit is being used by the Den Helder port authority)

  • Enigma+ for ports in municipalities in the Zeeland region (Enigma + is being used by the North Sea Port Netherlands port authority)

See for an overview of small ports per region the table in attached the pdf-file or on the website of Dutch Customs.