Effective October 1, 2024, the Port of Rotterdam will exclusively use the Secure Chain for collecting container cargo from Africa, the Middle East, India, and Pakistan. This initiative marks the third phase of the Secure Chain rollout in Rotterdam, following successful implementations for Latin America from April 1 and North America from July 1. Ultimately, the Secure Chain will cover container releases from all global regions.
Under the new protocol, major shipping lines including CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping, Maersk, MSC, and others will no longer issue PIN codes. Instead, only authorised hauliers, rail operators, and barge operators registered via the Secure Chain will access terminals. This unified approach ensures secure and reliable container collection without PIN code vulnerabilities.
Since its inception, the Secure Chain has processed nearly 275,000 containers, involving approximately 950 shippers/ship agents and 800 inland operators. The system operates through Portbase, the neutral logistics platform for Dutch ports, facilitating secure digital authorisations among trusted parties in a closed logistics chain.
“The Secure Chain enhances operational security by eliminating the risks associated with PIN codes,” stated a Port of Rotterdam spokesperson. Authorised inland operators can securely notify their terminal arrivals and gain access accordingly, streamlining logistics processes while bolstering security measures against potential misuse.
The adoption of the Secure Chain underscores Rotterdam’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and security standards in global maritime logistics. As the industry evolves, this standardised approach promises to simplify operations while safeguarding container handling integrity across international trade routes.
