Global Ports Group has launched a service for the digital issuance of orders for the loading of export containers at its First Container Terminal, meaning FCT will become the first Russian terminal to transfer to a fully paperless export management system.
The Group’s new service was tested in early June at Turukhtanny customs post with clients, OOO VMT and OOO Rayontrans, as participants in the experiment.
The proprietary technology enables the digital exchange of legally binding documents with the customs authority and is based on Global Ports’ customer portal and Sea Port’s Portal software functionality1.
The adoption of this technology means that the procedure of order preparation by forwarding companies and issuance of documents confirmed by customs has been completely digitalised.
On the basis of an order issued in this way, the terminal may start loading a container onto a vessel immediately without additional approval. All participants of the process – the forwarding company, the customs authority, the terminal and the shipping line – have online access to information about the status at all stages of the process.
The use of this new technology, and subsequent removal of paperwork, will therefore decrease the time required to handle a shipment of export containers and will greatly simplify the interaction between the process participants.
“Global Ports is working hard to make its service as convenient as possible for customers and partners. Shipment orders remained the last “paper” element in export shipments. Due to our efficient interaction with customs, we have now made this document digital as well. Now, an export shipment may be ordered and traced on our customer portal. The technology we use guarantees data protection and integrity of data after it is entered into the electronic document flow system”, – noted Alexey Yermolin, Director for Information Technology at Global Ports.
During 2020, the service will be rolled out across all Global Ports terminals in Russia. The technology will also be developed to include shipping lines’ functionality into the system, which will allow the digital preparation of documents that foreign economic activity players require to confirm the zero VAT rate application.2
Global Ports is the leader in digitalisation among all of Russian ports – as a result of the continued development in the Group’s IT Services, paper document flow at the Group’s terminals has reduced by 2.5x in the last six years.
1 Developed by the FCS and intended for issuance of documents for vehicles and goods carried by vessels across the customs border of the Customs Union, on the basis of the electronic document exchange system.
2 Sale of goods exported under the export customs regime is subject to VAT at a zero percent tax rate provided that the exporter submits to the tax authority the documents set forth in Article 165 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.