How to deal with groupage transport?
If your shipment is a groupage transport, a document must be pre-notified for each shipment.
You can check whether you are dealing with groupage transport in the service Import Status.
You are dealing with groupage transport if, when you search for your shipment in the service Import Status, you receive several search results in which the last 3 digits of the shipment number differ each time. See for example:
You can see the status per shipment in the example above. Make sure that an import document is pre-notified for each shipment.
If you have questions about one of the shipments, please contact the ferry operator.
Why can’t you use ‘customs release’ in most cases?
Document type 'customs release' is only intended for specific cargo shipments that require additional explicit customs permission to leave the terminal. The shipment remains blocked until Customs has granted this permission.
We have noticed that 'customs release' is regularly used to pre-notify transit documents from the UK or Ireland. This is not correct and results in your shipment remaining blocked at the terminal.
For transit documents drawn up in Ireland or the United Kingdom, the shipping company will make a notification import documentation on your behalf. For more information, see this explanation.
How can you correct an incorrect notification with FWV?
If you have pre-notified the document type FWV unintentionally, please contact the terminal to correct this document notification.
What is the correct shipment number for ferry operators in import shipments?
A shipment number consists of a SCAC-code, the booking number and the sequence number of the shipment. Shipment numbers of ferry-operators have the following format:
Company | SCAC | Example | Additional explanation |
CLdN | CLVW | CLVW0012345678001 | “CLVW” & “00” & bookingsnummer (8 positions) & sequence number of the shipment |
DFDS / KVSA | DFDS | DFDS123456780001 | “DFDS” & bookingsnummer (8 positions) & sequence number of the shipment (please note: extra 0) |
P&O Ferries | PONF | PONFHU12345678001 | “PONF” & departure location (here: Hull) & bookingsnumber (8 positions) & sequence number of the shipment |
Stena Line | STNL | STNL0012345678001 | “STNL” & “00” & bookingsnummer (8 positions) & sequence number of the shipment |
Do I need to prenotify returning empty packaging (roll containers, flower containers, packaging material) from the UK?
In principle, the packaging has lost its Union status and must be declared in order for goods to regain Union status.
How it works:
Please note! In your booking with the ferry operator, clearly state that you are transporting empty packaging. Also make sure that you comply with the Customs regulations: (in Dutch): https://www.getreadyforbrexit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-09-28-Memo-ODB-terugkerende-emballage-en-verpakkingen1.pdf
Do I have to notify transit documents from the UK when goods the Netherlands is not the final destination?
Scenario: You have drawn up a transit document from the United Kingdom (or from Ireland) that continues to accompany the goods until their final destination in the european hinterland (so-called transit document; T1/T2). Hence, the transit documents should not be signed off in the Netherlands.
To make sure that the goods may proceed through the hinterland to it's final destination, follow this procedure:
Your carrier ( / ferry operator) will have to declare your goods as 'passing though upon arrival'.
Please note! A transit document from the UK can be recognised by the first 5 characters: "21GB00" A number starting with "21GB01X" is not a transit document, but an export document from the UK.
How to deal with groupage transport?
If your shipment is a groupage transport, a document must be pre-notified for each shipment.
You can check whether you are dealing with groupage transport in the service Import Status.
You are dealing with groupage transport if, when you search for your shipment in the service Import Status, you receive several search results in which the last 3 digits of the shipment number differ each time. See for example:
You can see the status per shipment in the example above. Make sure that an import document is pre-notified for each shipment.
If you have questions about one of the shipments, please contact the ferry operator.
Why can’t you use ‘customs release’ in most cases?
Document type 'customs release' is only intended for specific cargo shipments that require additional explicit customs permission to leave the terminal. The shipment remains blocked until Customs has granted this permission.
We have noticed that 'customs release' is regularly used to pre-notify transit documents from the UK or Ireland. This is not correct and results in your shipment remaining blocked at the terminal.
For transit documents drawn up in Ireland or the United Kingdom, the shipping company will make a notification import documentation on your behalf. For more information, see this explanation.
How can you correct an incorrect notification with FWV?
If you have pre-notified the document type FWV unintentionally, please contact the terminal to correct this document notification.
What is the correct shipment number for ferry operators in import shipments?
A shipment number consists of a SCAC-code, the booking number and the sequence number of the shipment. Shipment numbers of ferry-operators have the following format:
Company | SCAC | Example | Additional explanation |
CLdN | CLVW | CLVW0012345678001 | “CLVW” & “00” & bookingsnummer (8 positions) & sequence number of the shipment |
DFDS / KVSA | DFDS | DFDS123456780001 | “DFDS” & bookingsnummer (8 positions) & sequence number of the shipment (please note: extra 0) |
P&O Ferries | PONF | PONFHU12345678001 | “PONF” & departure location (here: Hull) & bookingsnumber (8 positions) & sequence number of the shipment |
Stena Line | STNL | STNL0012345678001 | “STNL” & “00” & bookingsnummer (8 positions) & sequence number of the shipment |
Do I need to prenotify returning empty packaging (roll containers, flower containers, packaging material) from the UK?
In principle, the packaging has lost its Union status and must be declared in order for goods to regain Union status.
How it works:
Please note! In your booking with the ferry operator, clearly state that you are transporting empty packaging. Also make sure that you comply with the Customs regulations: (in Dutch): https://www.getreadyforbrexit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-09-28-Memo-ODB-terugkerende-emballage-en-verpakkingen1.pdf
I have prepared an export declaration (EX-A) in the UK; can I prenotify it in Notification Import Documentation?
No. The export declaration is only used to indicate that the goods are leaving the United Kingdom.
When entering The Netherlands, a new declaration must be submitted to Dutch customs (e.g. an import declaration or transit declaration). The document number of this declaration must then be prenotified to the terminal via Notification Import Documentation.
Do I have to notify transit documents from the UK when goods the Netherlands is not the final destination?
Scenario: You have drawn up a transit document from the United Kingdom (or from Ireland) that continues to accompany the goods until their final destination in the european hinterland (so-called transit document; T1/T2). Hence, the transit documents should not be signed off in the Netherlands.
To make sure that the goods may proceed through the hinterland to it's final destination, follow this procedure:
Your carrier ( / ferry operator) will have to declare your goods as 'passing though upon arrival'.
Please note! A transit document from the UK can be recognised by the first 5 characters: "21GB00" A number starting with "21GB01X" is not a transit document, but an export document from the UK.
I have prepared an export declaration (EX-A) in the UK; can I prenotify it in Notification Import Documentation?
No. The export declaration is only used to indicate that the goods are leaving the United Kingdom.
When entering The Netherlands, a new declaration must be submitted to Dutch customs (e.g. an import declaration or transit declaration). The document number of this declaration must then be prenotified to the terminal via Notification Import Documentation.
I have prepared an export declaration (EX-A) in the UK; can I prenotify it in Notification Import Documentation?
No. The export declaration is only used to indicate that the goods are leaving the United Kingdom.
When entering The Netherlands, a new declaration must be submitted to Dutch customs (e.g. an import declaration or transit declaration). The document number of this declaration must then be prenotified to the terminal via Notification Import Documentation.