Rem Korteweg Profile picture
Senior Fellow @clingendaelorg, PhD. Europe - Foreign Policy - Trade - Security - Transatlantic - UK/EU Warning, may tweet in Dutch! All tweets personal, obvs

Sep 25, 2020, 10 tweets

Great thread on the Kent permit.

Now how does it work on the other side of the North Sea?

/1

The Port of Rotterdam (incl ferries at Hook of Holland and Vlaardingen) uses its @Portbase system as a “digital border”.

For export to UK, it’s mandatory to pre-notify all customs documents through this system. Before arriving at the Port.

portbase.com/en/services/no…

/2

Everything is digital. It’s all online. Of course.

For past 2 years (!!) Port, NL government, Customs, export agencies, logistics folks have been working with their counterparts across EU27 to ensure relevant haulers across EU27 know about the system.

/3

Most regular/frequent users of the Port are up to speed, but how to reach those across EU27 that are first-time users of the Port?

Not the regulars, but the newbies. That's their main worry.

/4

Yes, there’s a risk some trucks show up without the mandatory pre-notification.

What happens then?

Simple: No access to terminal + delays

/5

I was mistaken yesterday when I said there will be fines for those who haven’t filled in their paperwork.

I now understand there won’t be.

But truckers without pre-notification will be delayed.



/6

But here’s the thing.

Rotterdam processes around 3000 trucks per day; More than 700 extra parking spots have been created at ferry terminals.

So there is room to park 23% of the daily rate.

/7

Dover processes 10.000 trucks per day. Eurotunnel approx. 4500.

And Michael Gove expects queues of up to 7000 trucks.

Or about 50% of those crossing the Channel will need to be parked.

/8

Port of Rotterdam proves there are ways to do this without creating a Kermit Permit.

So in UK, is it a problem of geography—cliffs make tight parking spots?

Or could poor preparedness for the decision the British people took 4 years ago be the problem?

/9

p.s. Sorry for the GIFs, it's Friday afternoon.

/N

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