Welcome! Events are moving very fast in 2026. Two months in and we’ve already marked the first anniversary of our move, Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. Regular travellers (including freight drivers) in Europe should be aware of new government and EU systems. In the last few days war has broken out in Iran and the Gulf region. What impact will that have on shipping and supply chains for our Deep Sea colleagues? In this edition we cover:
- Iran War: Shipping updates from Harbour Shipping and our sister companies.
- Biometrics and Barcodes! ETA, ELO and EES can all affect freight moves.
- Tunnels and Tolls. What’s happening in The Netherlands in July?
- Moving horses or horse-power? Chinese New Year is the year of the Fire Horse.
- Mike Johnson retires after 31 years.
- Testimonial of the Month
Iran War: Shipping Updates
The Iran war only began a few days before this newsletter’s publication date so we don’t know how long or severe the repercussions or second-order effects will be. We had a taste of what might occur from the Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping in 2024, which caused major disruption to international shipping and supply chains, as well as increasing insurance and overall costs.
To find out more, contact our in-house experts at Harbour Shipping or at our sister companies in the Star Cargo Group, who have already been posting regular updates on LinkedIn:
Biometrics and Barcodes: ETA, ELO and EES
Travelling between Great Britain and the European Union, for business or pleasure? These three new systems might affect your drivers or passengers so you need to be aware of them. Here are the headlines for the systems becoming mandatory this Spring.
- UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) - Started 25 February 2026. The ETA is fully mandatory for all eligible visa-exempt travellers entering or transiting the UK. This digital permission links directly to the passport and covers short stays. See our ETA webpage for more information.
- French Obligatory Logistics Envelope (ELO) - Starting 20th April 2026. ICS2 is now mandatory for all goods entering the European Union, and France is expected to introduce its ELO (Obligatory Logistics Envelope) this month. ELO consolidates all the necessary information and declarative formalities for crossing the French Smart Border under a single barcode. All trucks (whether loaded or empty) will need to present a single ELO barcode for scanning at the Smart Border, for imports, exports and transits.
- EU Entry/Exit System (EES) - Starting 10 April 2026. The EU will begin enforcing biometric borders for all non-EU visitors to the Schengen area. For British passport holders, including truck drivers and passengers, this means providing fingerprints and a photo at border kiosks on your first entry. Subsequent visits will involve a quick scan to replace manual passport stamping. Children under 12 only require a photo (no fingerprints). Keeping your paperwork (and your biometrics) in order is the best way to ensure your journey stays on schedule.
For more information contact Michael Tschirsch - UK and Europe Sales Manager, Dover | +44 (0) 1304 200935 | [email protected]
Moving horses or horse-power?
Happy Chinese New Year to everyone celebrating the Year of the Horse.
We know, we’re based in Dover, not Beijing. We spend our days looking at the Channel, not the Yangtze. But this year’s zodiac animal feels particularly relevant to what we do here. This industry runs on horsepower, whether it’s the engine pulling 44 tonnes up the M20 or the ferry engines crossing the Channel.
Beyond the metaphor, we also work with the real thing. Moving horses across the border is a specialist part of our customs work. It’s not as simple as just loading a trailer, it requires an ATA Carnet. This acts as a 'passport' for the animals, allowing them to travel for competitions or breeding without the need to pay duties at every border. It’s a process that requires:
- Deep knowledge of current HMRC rules.
- Precise documentation to avoid port delays.
- A team that understands the time-sensitive nature of live cargo.
We’ve been handling these complex requirements for over four decades, ensuring that whether your horsepower is under the bonnet or in the horsebox, it keeps moving. To our partners and customers celebrating – we wish you a prosperous and smooth year ahead. If you’re moving horses or other live cargo and need advice on ATA Carnets, contact our Customs Director, George Bowen: [email protected] | Telephone Line +44 (0)1304 200907
Whether it's for horses or horsepower, have a prosperous Year of the Fire Horse
European Tolls: Netherlands Update
The way we pay to use Dutch roads is changing on 1 July. From that date, the Netherlands will move away from the Eurovignette system. Instead, they’re introducing a distance-based charge for all trucks over 3.5 tonnes, known as the 'Vrachtwagenheffing'. If your fleet operates in or through the Netherlands, you'll need to be ready. This isn’t just a simple swap; it’s a shift to a pay-per-kilometre model that applies to almost all motorways and many regional roads. Here’s what you need to know:
- Rates depend on your vehicle’s weight and its CO2 emission class.
- The Eurovignette will still be required for Luxembourg and Sweden.
- Enforcement is strict, with fines for missing equipment.
- Every truck must have a working On-Board Unit (OBU) and a valid contract.
If you’d like to discuss how this change affects your routes or check if your current toll setup is ready for July, If you have any questions you can contact me at my Dover office: Samantha Barrie (European Tunnels & Tolls Manager): [email protected] | +44 (0) 1304 200913
Harbour Lights: Mike Johnson retires after 31 years!
We have mixed feelings this month as Mike Johnson, one of our longest-serving colleagues and friends, retires. Of course we’re happy for Mike and his family but the office won’t be the same without him. Before he left for the final time, we were able to sit down with Mike and ask him a few questions.
How long have you been with Harbour Shipping?
Well I started 31 years ago, just before Christmas 1994 to be more exact! I’d been working for a company called GJ Cooper in Dover, which did customs clearance and Intrastat, and Harbour Shipping actually bought the company. So they took me on, as well as my other colleagues, and I’ve been here ever since. I’m Dover born and bred so I’ve worked in the town and port all my life.
What stands out from your long career?
The main thing is, whatever your job is, it will change! You have to be flexible. I started in customs clearance, then moved to ferry booking with Harbour Shipping and the Sea Freight team, where I’m really proud of the quality of customer service we offer our clients.
Things have got a lot more complex and technical, particularly in the last 10 years as more and more documents are tagged and associated with ferry bookings. There are all the import and export documents, GMRs, SSDs and so on. If you get something wrong you can potentially cause costly delays, so we have to be very organised and focussed on the detail.
On the social side, I’ve enjoyed making some long-standing friends at Harbour Shipping, and also doing some of the out-of-hours social activities like bowling, skittles and quizzes.
What are you looking forward to having more time to do in retirement?
I’m looking forward to having a lot more time to do things with my wife and other loved-ones. We’ll have more time to help my in-laws who aren’t getting any younger. I can help with child-care for my grand-daughter who is just 5 years old. For hobbies, I’m looking forward to spending more time following Leeds United and Dover Athletic, and going to the horse races at Lingfield, Sandown and so on.
Finally, have you got any advice for young people starting out in the business?
As I said before, you’ve got to be adaptable as your job will change, whatever it starts as. Be interested in what you do, and make the effort to know your customers. Good luck!
And so say all of us Mike!
Last day of Philip White and Mike Johnson working together after 31 years!
Lovely group photo! Farewell Mike.
Testimonial of the Month!
Thanks Shelagh!
We're happy to acknowledge that the text and artwork for this newsletter was produced with the help of Shane Gurney at Sentily
All Rights Reserved ©2026 Harbour Shipping Ltd