Ship Security Pre-Arrival information (SSPI)
Before being allowed to enter a Dutch port, seagoing vessels must submit Ship Security Pre-Arrival Information (SSPI).
Submit the SSPI at least 24 hours prior to arrival
Are you a ship master, owner or manager or a shipping agent? Please take all appropriate actions to avoid unnecessary delays of your ship and submit the security pre-arrival information at least 24 hours prior to arrival.
If the voyage time is less than 24 hours, you must submit the information at the latest at the time the ship leaves the previous port.
If the port of call is not known or if it is changed during the voyage, please submit the information as soon as you know the port of call.
Please note: you must separately report any dangerous goods that your vessel might be carrying.
Submitting your SSPI to the port authorities
Your shipping agent must submit the SSPI via a Port Community System (PCS) such as Portbase or use the EU MARSEC Ship Security Pre-Arrival Form. For more information, please contact the harbour master of your port of destination:
- Port of Rotterdam
- Port of Amsterdam
- Ports of Terneuzen and Vlissingen (Flushing)
- Ports of Delfzijl and Eemshaven (in Dutch)
Required security information
The mandatory standard ship security pre-arrival information dataset must include information on the last 10 port facilities visited by the ship.
Use the IMO port facility number as found in the IMO GISIS database or provided by the shipping agent or port facility security officer. The IMO port facility number consists of the UN-LOCODE of the port and a specific 4-figures number. For instance, a facility in the port of Rotterdam can be identified as NLRTM-1234.
The EU has established the mandatory dataset in Regulation EU 2019/1239.
Why do you need to submit security pre-arrival information?
Pre-arrival information is to ensure compliance with SOLAS Chapter XI-2 (Special Measures to enhance maritime security) prior to entry into port. This way, the steps or control measures indicated in the SOLAS regulation do not need to be imposed. In addition, Regulation EC 725/2004 states that Member States must, where necessary, analyse the information provided and apply the procedure described in XI-2/9.2. These include, for instance, denial of entry into port or a security inspection by Duly Authorised Officers (DAO) before entry.