HMRC has confirmed that the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) and Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) systems remain operational. However, contingency routes have been announced, requiring changes to the routes selected on GVMS. Holyhead should not be used for imports or exports during this period. HMRC has reassured traders that there will be no penalties for using the contingency routes. 

Please check the sailing schedules of your chosen maritime carrier for further updates during this period. 

Contingency Routes for Imports from Ireland to Great Britain 

Declarants should continue submitting import declarations into Great Britain as usual. When a contingency route is used, your declaration will be automatically updated to reflect the new port of arrival. 

Hauliers should select the following routes on GVMS: 

• For journeys Dublin – Fishguard, select the ‘Rosslare – Fishguard’ route. 
• For journeys Dublin – Birkenhead/Liverpool, select the ‘Dublin – Liverpool’ route. 
• For journeys Dublin – Heysham, select the ‘Dublin – Heysham’ route. 

Contingency Routes for Exports from Great Britain to Ireland 

Declarants must ensure the Arrived Export location declared on the CDS export declaration matches the selected GVMS route. If there is a mismatch, the Goods Movement Reference (GMR) will not allow check-in. 

If the export departure location changes after a declaration has been submitted: 

1. Cancel the CDS Arrived Export declaration. 
2. Submit a new export declaration with the updated location code in Data Element 5/23. 

Hauliers should select the following routes on GVMS: 

• For journeys Fishguard – Dublin, select the ‘Fishguard – Rosslare’ route. 
• For journeys Birkenhead/Liverpool – Dublin, select the ‘Liverpool – Dublin’ route. 
• For journeys Heysham – Dublin, select the ‘Heysham – Dublin’ route.