Project completion: North Sea ports achieve full digitalisation of container release

Process established: Over 700,000 digital releases processed this year

Software providers DAKOSY and dbh have successfully completed the large-scale project to digitalise container release (Secure Release Order) across ports via the German Ports IT platform. In just one year, the two companies finalised the project from the registration of the first participant to the onboarding of all stakeholders involved.

The digital release process establishes, for the first time, a uniform cross-port standard across the German North Sea ports of Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven. Users include container terminals, shipping lines, freight forwarders and transport companies.

The seamless digital release process fully replaces the previously used PIN-based system. At its core is a digital right of collection, which is passed securely from one party to the next within the transport chain via a modern roles and permissions management system. Over a phased change process spanning six months, all companies involved were mandatorily onboarded and the new process established as standard. This is reflected in more than 700,000 digital releases already processed across all ports this year.

Matthias Knicky, Member of the Executive Board at Kühne + Nagel, confirms: "The implementation of the Secure Release Order process went smoothly and represents an important further step towards enhancing port security with efficient operations. The new system and the uniform technical solution also lay the foundation for digitalising the overall process in a far more comprehensive way."

The legal framework for the digital container release process in Hamburg and Bremen is provided by an amendment to the Port Security Act, which came into force in October 2025. Through cross-regional collaboration between policymakers, the port industry and the two software companies DAKOSY and dbh, a seamless digital process chain was created that goes well beyond the requirements of the regulation, covering the entire workflow from a container's arrival to its collection at the German North Sea ports.

With this uniform cross-port standard, the North Sea ports are taking a united stand against drug smuggling, using digitalisation to close a gateway for misuse and data breaches. Jens Hansen, Chief Operating Officer at Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA), is clear about the benefits: "The new standardised and clearly defined processes greatly enhance the security of our terminal operations and our staff. This benefits not only us as operators, but all partners along the entire logistics chain."

Beyond the fight against drug smuggling, the uniform digital standard has noticeably improved transparency and efficiency in container handling across the North Sea ports. Industry feedback highlights the operational advantages of the German Ports service, including faster cargo availability, more transparent workflows, greater planning reliability and fewer queries thanks to improved data quality.

Marc Dietrich, Managing Director of EUROGATE Container Terminal Bremerhaven (CTB), confirms the successful implementation: "We are very satisfied with the system, its integration into our existing operational processes and the smooth live operations now under way."

Key milestones in the introduction of the digital Secure Release Order

14 April 2024 Launch of the registration phase

1 October 2025 Amendment to the Hamburg and Bremen Port Security Act enters into force

1 October 2025 Start of regular operations with phased onboarding of terminals, freight forwarders, importers and transport companies

23 March 2026 Truck drivers onboarded as the final mandatory participant group