Rotterdam and Amsterdam port community systems to merge

Amsterdam & Rotterdam, October 1, 2008 - As of July 1, 2009, the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam will have one joint port community system. To achieve this, the organizations behind the two current systems - Port infolink in Rotterdam and PortNET in Amsterdam - are to merge.

Via one port community system, the new organization will offer customers of the two ports an even broader range of services for the exchange of data both between them and with the port authorities and customs.

The creation of one single port community system is a cherished wish of the (international) business community that often operates via both ports. Agencies such as customs also appreciate the advantages. In practice, the collaboration will mean that the participants in PortNET can use the services of Port infolink for the exchange of data from mid-2009 onwards. These will be modified for the Amsterdam situation.

The existing PortNET system (ERINet) will then be phased out. For Rotterdam's Port infolink clients, nothing will change in the everyday use of the current services.

A second element in this joining of forces is the development of a completely new technical platform with existing and new functionality in order to prepare the joint port community system for the future.

In this connection, when designing the new system, account will be taken of open standards so that links with external systems can be established simply. By combining the strengths of Port infolink and PortNET, significant synergy is possible on the way to an optimum end result. The new platform should become available in 2010.