Port of Rotterdam Authority announced that the 500,000th import container was securely and reliably handled via the Secure Chain in the Dutch port.
Shipping lines no longer issue PIN codes, which are susceptible to fraud, for these containers.
The new operational approach has become standard practice in Rotterdam for all import containers from Latin America (since 1 April) and North America (since 1 July) and will soon (as of 1 October 2024) be implemented for container cargo from Africa, the Middle East, India and Pakistan.
“Using this approach, the current milestone of 500,000 containers was reached in just over ten months. Ultimately, all deepsea import containers in the port of Rotterdam will be securely and reliably handled via the Secure Chain,” said the major European port.
Port of Rotterdam Authority explains that in the Secure Chain, the shipping line, the shipper, the forwarder and the carrier digitally pass on the right to collect a container to each other, creating a closed logistics chain which solely comprises familiar, authorised parties. They securely exchange the necessary information with one another and this is done via the Port Community System of Portbase, the neutral logistics platform for the Dutch ports.
“Only a haulier, barge operator or rail operator that has been authorised via the Secure Chain is able to access the terminal,” points out the Authority.
The launch of the secure and reliable collection and delivery of import containers in early 2024 is one aspect of the Secure Chain. Another initiative is the verification of the operating carrier at the gate by container terminals. This automatic check ensures that the right driver is always granted access.