The Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT), owned by COSCO, has obtained a Certified Receiver Licence from the Greek Customs Authority. This allows the company to speed up operations by moving customs procedures for transit cargo from the port to the end destination.
In other words, the authorisation changes where the customs procedures for transit cargo can be carried out. The new certificate is thus intended to simplify the interface between customs procedures and rail operations at Greece’s largest port. Containers arriving by sea can be transferred to rail for onward movement to inland markets in Greece and other European countries.
Customs procedure at the end destination
The measure is particularly relevant to containers arriving at Piraeus from Asia that are transferred directly from ship to train for onward transport towards the rest of Europe. According to the new regime, these goods can remain under a customs transit procedure rather than being imported into Greece. This means that customs procedures can take place at the final destination rather than at the Greek port.
Under the new arrangement, PCT can receive the rail-transit movement directly at its authorised premises and handle the associated formalities in conjunction with the terminal and railway operations. This should reduce administrative handling and coordination between the terminal, railway operators and customs authorities and potentially reduce waiting time before onward movement.
The COSCO Piraeus Container Terminal
PCT operates the container terminal at the port of Piraeus, where COSCO is a majority shareholder. It is located within the Piraeus Free Zone and has direct access to the Greek and international railway networks. The terminal has been developed as an integrated maritime and rail logistics hub, with containers able to transfer between ships and trains within the port complex.
The new customs status therefore represents a facilitation measure at the interface between port, terminal, rail and customs operations rather than a change to the customs clearance requirements themselves. PCT said the authorisation would simplify procedures for rail-transit cargo and support more efficient integration of rail services with its container-handling operations.