Announcement on behalf of the Harbour Master:
Email address and telephone number vessel mandatory in Rotterdam
As of 24 February 2026, it will be mandatory for every vessel visiting Rotterdam to provide an email address and telephone number. This will enable the Harbour Master to contact the vessel at any time.
The use of this data is strictly for the Harbour Master and is not shared with other parties. The Harbour Master only uses this contact information in situations that require rapid coordination, such as incident management, technical malfunctions or extreme weather forecasts. Direct communication helps to limit risks and ensure the efficient handling of shipping traffic in the harbour.
Specific examples of applications:
• Telephone: If the vessel breaks loose from its moorings during a storm, immediate contact must be made by telephone.
• Email: If unexpectedly high winds or extremely low water levels are forecast, immediate contact must be made by email.
When using the email address, the Harbour Coordination Centre always tries to include the relevant agent in the CC so that the agent is also aware of the communication with the vessel.
This obligation is included in the ‘Regeling meldplichtige zeeschepen Rotterdam, Article 2L, with an explanation at the bottom: Gemeenteblad 2026, 70167 | Overheid.nl > Officiële bekendmakingen.
Warning for visits with expired ETA
As of 24 February the system will issue a warning when the ETA pilot boarding place for a new visit has expired. A warning will appear on the screen and be sent by email so that the ETA PBP can still be adjusted, the intention changed to ‘Waiting for Orders’ or the visit cancelled.
We regularly encounter so-called ‘old visits’ that cause problems when, for example, the same vessel is registered again at a later date. We assume that you will adjust the visit as soon as possible after receiving the warning.
Portbase Support
More information can be found on the Portbase Support website.
Any questions? Please contact the Portbase Servicedesk:
Email: customerservice@portbase.com
Tel: +31 (0)88 625 25 25 (weekdays 8:00 – 18:00)
Kind regards, also on behalf of Port of Amsterdam and Portbase,
Louis van Waardijk
Project Manager, Harbour Master Division (Rotterdam)
Tel: +31 (0)6 10 93 8114
