Effective 30 September 2026, Maersk's 'No MRN, No Load' policy mandates valid MRN for EU-bound shipments to avoid delays and additional costs.
Maersk has issued a formal compliance notice confirming that, effective 30 September 2026, a strict 'No MRN, No Load' policy will be enforced for all shipments subject to EU ICS2 Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) requirements.
All ocean freight destined for or transiting through the European Union that falls under ICS2 ENS declaration obligations must obtain a valid Movement Reference Number (MRN) at least 24 hours before vessel arrival at the applicable compliant port of loading. Failure to secure a valid MRN within this window will result in cargo being excluded from the loading list, with shipments potentially rolled to subsequent voyages and exposed to delays and additional costs.
In alignment with the EU ICS2 regulatory framework and Maersk's accompanying guidelines, the following common deficiencies have been identified as leading causes of ENS rejection:
HS Code Compliance: Each commodity must be declared with a valid six-digit HS code that accurately reflects the actual goods; verification against the WCO 2022 HS Nomenclature is strongly recommended.
Clear Shipper Identification: Submissions via EDI or Inttra must explicitly identify whether the filing party is a Beneficial Cargo Owner (BCO) or a Freight Forwarder.
EORI Number Verification: Where split filings are applicable, a valid and activated EORI number for the subsequent declarant must be provided, with particular attention to case sensitivity, spacing, and character accuracy.
Specific Cargo Descriptions: Cargo descriptions must be precise and accurate; generic terms such as 'parts,' 'clothing,' or 'automotive products' are unlikely to satisfy declaration requirements.
Complete Buyer and Seller Information: Consignee, shipper, and house bill of lading details must each be submitted clearly and in full, including legal name, street address, city, country or territory, and postal code.
By directly linking loading authorization to MRN acquisition timelines, Maersk has introduced measurably stricter operational requirements for cargo movement. Shippers and forwarders handling China-to-Europe exports, as well as cargo transiting through European ports to other destinations, are advised to pay close attention to ENS filing responsibilities and data submission timelines.
Relevant cargo owners and freight forwarding enterprises are encouraged to review and streamline their internal documentation processes in advance, ensuring that all declaration data is complete and accurate from the outset—minimizing unnecessary delays and avoiding avoidable additional costs.
