Before 1 July 2024, the leading container shipping lines and ship agents in Rotterdam will ensure that all customers with container cargo from North America are integrated into the Secure Chain.
After this date, they will cease issuing PIN codes to this customer group. Import containers will exclusively be released through the Secure Chain, ensuring both security and reliability. This protocol has already been effectively executed for cargo originating from Latin America since 31 March.
In the second half of 2024, the shipping lines and ship agents intend to expand the reach of the Secure Chain to additional sailing regions. Their goal is to manage the import containers of a wide array of customers in Rotterdam using the updated secure and dependable method, eliminating the need for PIN codes by the year’s end.
According to a statement, eventually, the Secure Chain will encompass all cargo. Previously, it was stated that priority would be given to integrating the top 100 customers; this effort will now coincide with the rollout of the Secure Chain across various sailing areas.
With the involvement of CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd (via Secure Container Release), HMM, Maersk, MSC, ONE, OOCL, Yang Ming, and ZIM, the Secure Chain initiative in the port of Rotterdam establishes a standardized operational procedure for the secure and dependable release and collection of import containers, eliminating the need for PIN codes.
Furthermore, the Secure Chain represents a collaboration between the business sector and authorities aimed at enhancing the resilience of port logistics processes through digital means. A key aspect of this initiative is the implementation of a more secure and reliable system for releasing and collecting import containers within Dutch ports. Within a closed logistics network consisting exclusively of trusted and authorized parties, companies digitally transfer authorization to collect containers securely at terminals.
Only inland operators authorized through the Secure Chain can notify their arrival at terminals and subsequently gain access. This approach eliminates the use of PIN codes, which are vulnerable to potential misuse. The Secure Chain largely operates through the Port Community System of Portbase, the neutral logistics platform for Dutch ports.
