The first weekend of brexit has been calm for now, with the expected chaos in the ports of Rotterdam and IJmuiden remaining absent. On Monday, when traffic resumes, it should become clear whether customs formalities cause delays.
Britain has not officially been part of the European market since 1 January. After long negotiations, an agreement on future trade terms was only reached on Christmas Eve. That trade agreement does not mean no customs formalities; as of 1 January, all incoming and outgoing goods will be checked.
Despite those customs formalities, there were no peculiarities in the past, reports TLN. evofenedex also received no signals of delays from its own backbenchers yet. The first weekend of 2021 is probably not normative for the rest of the month. Indeed, it was extremely quiet on the trade route between the UK and the Netherlands. "Only in the course of next week, when traffic increases, will it become clear where things could backfire," a TLN spokesperson told the FD.
Many carriers not prepared
Customs expects delays at Mainport Rotterdam over the next four to six weeks, as a survey shows that one in four transporters does not yet have the right documents. "Despite the facilities that have been put in place and the much preparatory work done by Customs and other parties at the port, there will be delays," said Nanette van Schelven, director general of Customs.
Emergency parking
Carriers who have not properly pre-notified their cargo to Portbase, the community system at the port, will not be allowed access to the ferry terminals and will be directed to specially designated emergency parking areas. At the temporary parking areas, carriers can still prepare the documents.
