Holyhead Port - HMRC outlines contingency routes for imports and exports.
HMRC
Following the weather damage caused by Storm Darragh at Holyhead Port, due to the temporary closure of the port, HMRC have announced some interim measures to mitigate the possible disruptions. HMRC has confirmed that the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) and Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) systems remain operational. HMRC has reassured traders that there will be no penalties for using the contingency routes.
Please see the HMRC announcement below.
HMRC continues to work with Holyhead Port, the affected maritime carriers and with Border Force to monitor the situation. We recognise the temporary closure of this commercial port location will cause disruption, and we are actively engaged with these stakeholders to support and facilitate contingency arrangements where possible.
HMRC have agreed contingency routes with affected carriers and this means you may need to make some changes to routes you select on GVMS. Full details are set out below, but Holyhead should not be used for either imports or exports. HMRC has reassured traders that there will be no penalties for using the contingency routes.
Contingency Routes for Imports from Ireland to Great Britain
Declarants should continue submitting import declarations into Great Britain as usual. When a contingency route is used, your declaration will be automatically updated to reflect the new port of arrival.
Hauliers should select the following routes on GVMS:
- For journeys Dublin – Fishguard, select the ‘Rosslare – Fishguard’ route.
- For journeys Dublin – Birkenhead/Liverpool, select the ‘Dublin – Liverpool’ route.
- For journeys Dublin – Heysham, select the ‘Dublin – Heysham’ route.
Contingency Routes for Exports from Great Britain to Ireland
Declarants must ensure the Arrived Export location declared on the CDS export declaration matches the selected GVMS route. If there is a mismatch, the Goods Movement Reference (GMR) will not allow check-in.
If the export departure location changes after a declaration has been submitted:
- Cancel the CDS Arrived Export declaration.
- Submit a new export declaration with the updated location code in Data Element 5/23.
Hauliers should select the following routes on GVMS:
- For journeys Fishguard – Dublin, select the ‘Fishguard – Rosslare’ route.
- For journeys Birkenhead/Liverpool – Dublin, select the ‘Liverpool – Dublin’ route.
- For journeys Heysham – Dublin, select the ‘Heysham – Dublin’ route.
HMRC will continue to communicate further in January when they know more about when Holyhead Port will reopen.
