Import Control System (ICS2)

New legislation for process of Entry for the maritime sector

The introduction of Import Control System 2 (ICS2) has resulted in a new process for bringing goods into the European Union by sea freight. This has significantly changed the declarations for the ENS (Entry Summary Declaration) and ATO (Declaration for Temporary Storage). In consultation with the community, we have adapted the service Pre-arrival Cargo Declaration Import (for ENS) to comply with this legislation.

Portbase ICS2 support environment

Impact for the declarant

With the entry of ICS2, the following will change for you:

ENS declarations are made to a central European system (Shared Trader Interface, STI) instead of to Customs in the first Member State of entry
The new ENS requires much more data. Now, summary data (at master level) are sufficient, soon more detailed data (at house level) will be mandatory
Multiple filing will be possible. This allows multiple parties to submit the mandatory data for the ENS
Notification of Arrival, of the vessel in the EU, will also be done in the central European system
It will be possible to make ENS notifications through Portbase in other European ports
Submission of the ATO for goods unloaded at the port, will continue to be done at the national customs authority. However:
- Common data appearing in both the ENS and ATO may not differ from each other
- In the ATO the declarant may refer to the ENS. As a result, less data is required when submitting the declaration.

Services

Both services are available for all sectors: bulk, ferry, container (shortsea, feeder, deepsea) and breakbulk.

Pre-arrival Cargo Declaration Import

This service is also suitable for filing ENS internationally. You can use the service Pre-arrival Declaration Cargo Import to submit ENS declarations to all European ports. The service can also be used to submit the Notification of Arrival to the European STI system. This way, Portbase offers international companies one centralised solution through the PCS.

Please note: in case of multiple filing, you as shipping company, shipbroker or agent will provide your part of the information (master data) via pre-arrival Cargo Declaration Import. For submitting house data for multiple filing, you need to make separate arrangements with the forwarder or shipper. Portbase does not support this.

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Cargo Declaration Import

The current ATO will change on 1 October 2026. Further information will follow as soon as possible. In the meantime, you submit the current ATO.

The new ATO can also be submitted via the service Cargo Declaration Import.

Do you work with a system interface for Cargo Declaration Import? We are currently in discussion with Customs about updated message specifications and any consequences for the current interface.

As soon as the outcome is known, we will let you know if any changes to the system interface are necessary.

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Client story

Keeping DFDS moving

“What convinced us was the maturity of the solution and the fact that Portbase had worked closely with the logistics community to ensure minimal disruption”

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