Portbase has been asked by the Secure Chain to make the import container release process in the port of Rotterdam safer and more reliable. An extra authorization layer is added in various services. Via this authorization layer, the various parties in the logistics chain digitally pass on the right to collect a container to each other. This creates a closed chain with only authorized parties.
Secure Chain: Cargo Controller
With Cargo Controller we are transparent in the data of your cargo, making it an extremely suitable application for the Secure Chain. Within Cargo Controller, certain information is only accessible to parties who are actually allowed to view this information, through nomination and authorization. We will explain that process to you in this Quick Start Guide.
Through this Quick Start Guide we give you insight into how you can manage chain partners for your cargo within Cargo Controller. In this way, the service is part of the Secure Chain.
Roles
We have various roles and rights within the Secure Chain. In this QSG we can refer to this:
Services
Portbase supports the Secure Chain within our existing services. In this QSG we focus on the middle two roles: Release-to Party and Forwarders.
Organizations that recognize themselves in the roles of Release-to Party and/or Forwarders have had to make a choice between Cargo Release Manager or Cargo Controller. You have probably already made this choice by following this QSG.
If you were already a Cargo Controller user, you can easily activate the options of the Secure Chain by following this FAQ.
PLEASE NOTE: First register your carrier reference number to be able to receive releases
Are you a direct customer (the release-to-party) of the carrier or freight broker? To receive releases from the carrier, you must first request and gain access to the Cargo Release Manager service. You must then enter the customer reference that has been provided to you. From that moment on, the carrier or freight broker will process your import containers in the new, secure way via the Secure Chain and you can receive and pass them on within the service. See step 4: Identification and Verification.
In the next step we will delve deeper into the supply chains and variants you can experience
You can only start the Secure Chain once you have informed all your chain partners. Without the last link you cannot simply start safely releasing containers.
Different roles
From your perspective, you as an organization can fulfill different roles within different chains, sometimes depending on the type of goods or obligations that each chain entails. Below is a schematic representation where you act in a different role as a Release-to Party or as a Forwarder.
Visibility: Each role can only see its client and to whom the assignment has been passed. This way the chain remains transparent.
Different chains
It is even possible that you are active in different chains, with more or fewer chain partners. Below are the types of chains that Portbase can currently support.
The shipping company determines the starting point at which you become active in the Secure Chain, but then it is up to the Release-to Party to prepare all chains and all chain parties for this. This is your joint responsibility.
NB! The role of Inland Operator can be transferred indefinitely.
In the next step we continue with activating the Secure Chain.
In the previous steps we took you through the preparations for actually using the Secure Chain within Cargo Controller.
You will need to complete the next step if your organization is the recipient of the commercial exemption through the carrier. If you are not a recipient of the commercial release, you can continue to the next step.
Identification via customer code
Verification
The carrier immediately receives an e-mail notification containing the request for verification from your organization in combination with the entered reference number. The name of your organization in PCS and that of the shipping company with this reference number must be a match. The carrier verifies whether this registration is approved.
Starting the Secure Chain
In consultation with the carrier, you jointly determine from when whether the commercial exemptions will be exempt via PCS in Cargo Controller. Portbase has no further active role in this, this is done via the carrier.
Manage reference number
You can have multiple reference numbers per carrier, which you can register individually. In this tab you can see which reference numbers you have registered per carrier and you can also manage them by removing expired reference numbers using the ‘Delete’ button.
You want to be able to quickly create an overview of which cargo has or has not been made active within the Secure Chain. We have made a number of options available for this.
Overview My releases
In the main screen you can create a separate overview of all commercial releases that are exempt to your organization. This makes a distinction between the B/Ls that are already active in the Secure Chain and those that are not.
Filters
The following filter options will help you quickly clarify the status of your cargo:
Container status
You can read statuses at 8 critical points per container. Here you can read more about all statuses and which ones are important to follow for the Secure Chain.
E-mail notifications
You can set an email notification for each commercial exemption or authorization. Here you can read more about how to set this up.
With these resources we expect you to be able to monitor for exceptions and remain in control of your cargo.
This step applies to all parties that manage a carrier in the chain.
Overview ‘All Cargo’ vs. ‘My releases’
As the recipient of the release, you have the ‘release-to-party’ role (and therefore also receive the rights of Loading Director). The ‘My releases’ overview only shows the B/Ls for which you are the release-to party.
In the ‘All loads’ overview you will see all loads, including the loads for which you are authorized by your client and are the Cargo Director or Transport Director.
Nominate
You can track a B/L and nominate the carrier in advance, without the commercial exemption having already been sent. Thanks to the Chain of Trust, you and the carrier will receive an update immediately after the exemption is active.
button of the B/L line-button
NB! If your carrier is not active at PCS with Hinterland Container Notification, it will not be visible in this list.
Withdraw nomination
With the nomination active, you can withdraw it at any time, as long as the container has not yet been collected from the terminal. Each chain party can withdraw the authorization or nomination from the following chain partners. Read more about that here.
Timeline
You can view all events in the timeline of the B/L, where you can also see at user level who performed this action.
You can skip this step if you organize the transport yourself and do not direct a third party to organize the transport for you.
My releases
As the recipient of the release, you have the ‘release-to-party’ role and therefore also receive the rights of Loading Director. All B/Ls of which you are the recipient are shown filtered in the ‘My releases’ overview.
Authorize
You use a logistics service provider and can transfer the nomination rights to this party. We call this empowerment. Authorization can only take place with parties that are active within either Cargo Controller or Cargo Release Manager. The authorized representative is given the role of ‘Cargo director’.
NB! You can only authorize if you have the commercial exemption, not before.
button of the B/L line-button
Withdrawal of authorization
With the authorization active, you can revoke it at any time, as long as the container has not yet been collected from the terminal. Each chain party can withdraw the authorization or nomination from the following chain partners. Read more about that here.
Timeline
You can view all events in the timeline of the B/L, where you can also see at user level who performed this action.
You have now learned what the Secure Chain entails and how you can apply it within the Cargo Controller service. At the end we would like to show you how this theory can be experienced in practice.
Timing of moves
You have learned that all actions are consecutive, but the order in which moves are made can be as follows:
Any questions?
Then view all our FAQs on this page, or if you have specific Secure Chain questions, view our separate Support page about the Secure Chain here. You can also always contact our Customer Service.
Within Cargo Controller you can partially or completely automate the authorization and nomination process in a number of ways.
Authorization trusted Cargo Directors
If you work with a select number of fixed cargo directors, you can link them to your organization in a register. If this cargo director then tracks the same B/L as you, the authorization will immediately be sent to this party after receiving the commercial exemption. You no longer need to take any action for this. You can read more information about this here.
Nominate trusted Inland Operators
If you work with a select number of fixed inland operators, you can link them to your organization in a register of trusted parties. When a user wants to select a inland operator, only the registered, trusted Inland Operators are now available to nominate. You can read more information about this here.
Nominate via Excel upload
If you do not use our Cargo Controller API service, you can upload data in bulk via our ‘Excel upload’ function. You can now also enter nominations in the updated template. You can read more information about this here.
Cargo Controller API
You can control authorizations and nominations from your own software system via this API. You can read more information about this here.