Rotterdam Port Halts No-deal Brexit Preps

The Port of Rotterdam Authority has again put its preparatory measures for a No-Deal Brexit on hold following recommendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The largest port in Europe, located in the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands, said in a press note attributed the reason to the agreement reached yesterday by member states of the European Union and the United Kingdom on a Brexit extension until 31 January 2020.

"In concrete terms, this means that, effective from today, the buffer parking locations for trucks will again be dismantled. This parking was intended for trucks that, as a consequence of Brexit, did not have their papers in order," it said.

Extension does not mean annulment. Although the Brexit extension offers perspectives for an orderly departure of the United Kingdom from the EU, a No-Deal Brexit on 31 January 2020 remains a possibility.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority will therefore continue to stress that exporters and importers need to pre-alert their cargo digitally via PortBase, it said.

PortBase is the digital solution in Dutch ports to ensure that cargo can be transported quickly via Dutch ports even after Brexit.