Guiding You Through Changes to Our North Sea Import Process

From 1 January 2022, ALL Driver Accompanied shipments entering the UK on our North Sea Routes, will require ‘Pre-Lodgement’ using GVMS (The Goods Vehicle Movement Service).

You may be familiar with this process as we introduced it for Transit Driver Accompanied (mandatory) and Transit Un-accompanied shipments in July 2021, but this has been extended to include all Driver Accompanied shipments irrespective of what type of Import Customs Status your goods are declared under for entering the UK. 

From 31 March 2022 it will also be possible to utilise GVMS for un-accompanied non-transit shipments with P&O on our North Sea Routes from Zeebrugge and Europoort.

*Includes Mixed Load Shipments Transit/Non-Transit as this will be manifested as T1 in Destin8.

WHAT WILL YOU HAVE TO DO?

You will need to register with HMRC to use GVMS to move your goods from Europoort & Zeebrugge, for shipment to our UK ports of Hull, Tilbury and Teesport. (This is a one-time Process.)

For each shipment, you will need to create a UK import declaration with HMRC. You can either do this directly or via a nominated customs agent on your behalf. For each shipment, you will need to obtain a Goods Movement Record (GMR) from the GVMS system.

Your Entry Reference Numbers (ERNs) for Full UK Import Customs Movements will need to be linked together within the single GMR. Or, if you are shipping under Transit, your Movement Reference Numbers (MRNs) will need to be linked together within the single GMR.

You can create your GMRid’s up to 28 days before your shipment date in GVMS. Each GMR contains details for a single crossing and can be used only once.

STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO THE PROCESS

Before arrival at the Port (Europoort or Zebrugge)

1. Create a GMR and link the unique references for all transit and non-transit declarations in the GVMS system. Your GMRid MUST include all of your declarations.
2. Send P&O the GMRid (Goods Movement Reference) and confirm customs status using the P&O Freight Portal prior to sending your vehicle to the port. Portal Data is required to facilitate the Import into the UK*. Instructions on how to do this can be found on the portal. (EDI customers can do this through EDI).

   You must:

   • Add your GMR id
   • Verify your GMR id
   • Complete all mandatory fields*

   Failure to do this prior to arrival at the gate may result in your goods being shipped under Temporary Storage (Un-accompanied) or being refused entry to the Terminal (Driver Accompanied).

3. Ensure your driver has a copy of the GMRid and if shipping via Transit, the Transit Accompanying Document (TAD) on arrival at the terminal, where they will be required to present it to gate staff.

On arrival at EU port

The GMRid will be validated at the entry gate, and if successful, the vehicle will be given permission to board by HMRC and will be checked-in for shipment by P&O Ferries.

Note – the vehicle details entered in the GVMS system must be the same as the vehicle which arrives at the port, or the GMR will not be able to be validated.

For Self-Drive this is the Vehicle Registration (cab/plate number), for Unaccompanied this will be the Trailer Id or Container Id.

Vehicles which cannot be successfully validated will not be able to board and may be refused entry to the terminal.

Completing all mandatory fields and verifying your GMRid prior to arrial at the port will help to avoid validation issues at the port.

Upon arrival at the UK Port

During the crossing the HMRC risk assessment will be completed and GVMS will be updated with a Free to Proceed or Hold message. Destin8 (Port Community System) will be updated to show a Release Note when GVMS provides a Free to Proceed message. Customers can view the status of the GMR via the same method it was created, or via the gov.uk service . Vehicles/units without a release note will not be able to leave the terminal.

Any units which are carrying a mix of Transit goods, or Transit and non-Transit goods will only be cleared to leave the port when all of the formalities for the whole unit are completed.