Baltic Customs: e-Declaration software helps reduce time and simplify customs procedures
The Baltic Customs (the North-West Customs Directorate) introduced the “Sea Port Portal” software suite which has made it possible to shorten the time for customs procedures for processing commercial ships and transported goods and vehicles, the Baltic Customs told IAA PortNews.
In July 2016 the Baltic Customs launched at its posts the Sea Port Portal Portal. This application is based on a ‘single window’ mode which provides a unified information platform integrating stevedores, ocean carriers and state control authorities. The software is integrated with the information systems of the Russian FSB Border Guard Service, of Rosselkhoznadzor and Rospotrebnadzor. The technology provides for a step-by-step submission of information about the goods, cargo and the vessel by cargo owners and other parties and carriers at different stages of the technological process in the course of information exchange and preparation of documents.
The application enables interaction of participants of maritime traffic, data exchange between the customs authorities of the Federal Customs Service and other state control agencies and the port authorities while performing customs control procedures and other types of state control of arriving / departing ships and cargo at seaports.
The system user can exchange information at various stages and during procedures. The Sea Port Portal provides information about goods and a package of electronic documents and details about the planned arrival within the Eurasian Economic Union territory of sea and river vessels. When a seagoing vessel leaves the port, the Sea Port Portal provides a package of e-documents and information about the planned departure from the EEU territory of sea and river vessels, instructions for loading cargo, etc.
Between January 1, 2017 and November 1, 2017, shippers and carriers submitted 575 pre-arrival notifications of goods and 1,419 e-documents and information packages.
To date, 32 shipping lines and shipping agencies operating in the Baltic Customs region use the Sea Port Portal to submit pre-arrival notification of goods. The share of ships that submit e-document / information packages is 15.5%.