An interruption in the ICS2 (Import Control System 2) of the European Union is affecting a set of customs procedures for maritime transport, according to an operational update released by Maersk on August 10. The shipping company indicates that the problem began on Friday, August 7, and remained unresolved at the time of its last notice.
The failure affects the EU’s advance cargo declarations, including the submission of the Summary Declaration of Entry (ENS) via ICS2, as well as notifications of ship arrivals, temporary deposit declarations, and other manifest procedures that depend on the system. Maersk points out that at this time, the EU customs are not receiving the Movement Reference Numbers (MRN) nor the associated acknowledgments.
Mandatory procedures remain pending and are expected to be submitted once the system is restored. Reference numbers and customs acknowledgments will be backdated after service recovery. According to the company, customers do not need to take any action for now, unless contacted to clarify specific aspects of a shipment. The shipping line adds that EU customs have acknowledged the incident and that Maersk is coordinating with customs authorities while monitoring the interruption.
ICS2 is the advance cargo information system that the European Union uses for goods entering or transiting through the bloc. Economic operators must submit security and protection information via a Summary Declaration of Entry before the arrival of the goods, allowing customs authorities to conduct risk analysis prior to arrival.
Starting June 1, 2026, all shipments entering the EU by any mode of transport must have a valid Summary Declaration of Entry, submitted directly to ICS2 or, in participating countries, through the combined declaration available in phase 6 of the New Computerized Transit System (NCTS). For maritime transport, the European Commission stipulates that ship operators must also submit a notification of arrival when the vessel reaches the first-entry customs, after which the goods must be presented at customs upon arrival.
The Commission warns that incomplete summary declarations may be rejected or lead to requests for additional information, resulting in delays in processing and entry procedures. To connect to ICS2, economic operators need an Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI) and must have the necessary IT and business processes. The connection can be made directly or through an IT service provider. The information sent by the system is used to identify high-risk shipments and guide customs controls.
The incident coincides with the full implementation phase of ICS2, effective for all modes of transport since June 1, 2026, a requirement that makes advance declaration a mandatory step for the entry of goods into the Union. Maersk has not provided a restoration schedule and has indicated that it will issue further information when the system recovers or when additional details are available.