Guidance

Community System Providers — trade and commercial contacts

Updated 26 April 2024

Community System Providers (CSPs) are commercial entities that directly interface with HMRC frontier systems, including the Customs Declaration Service.

CSPs provide community network services to specific port and airport communities which are formed by:

• HMRC along with other government agencies
• commercial logistics entities such as freight forwarders, shipping lines, temporary storage facility operators and haulage companies

Community Network Services (CNS)

CNS have a system name of Compass.

CNS Compass principally deal with maritime container traffic and is involved with all customs procedures at:

• import for third country traffic
• export to third countries

There are also air and courier models.

Locations where Community Network Services are used

CNS is linked to seaport locations at:

• Belfast
• Birmingham
• Chatham
• East Midlands
• Hull
• Immingham
• Leeds
• London Gateway
• Manchester
• Portsmouth
• Reading
• Southampton
• Tilbury

CNS is also used at approximately 80 External Temporary Storage Facilities (ETSF).

For details on locations, contact the company using their website.

CNS contact details

Community Network Services Ltd
204-207 Western Docks
Hampshire
SO15 1DA

Email: helpdesk@cnsonline.net or cnscommercial@cnsonline.net

Telephone: +44 (0)845 658 9930

Fax: +44 (0)23 8079 9600

Website: www.cnsonline.co.uk

CNS Air Courier

The CNS Air Courier systems allows couriers and express parcel operators based in London Heathrow and Gatwick to get clearance of customer packages globally.

Locations where CNS Air Couriers are used

CNS Air Couriers are used in London Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

For details on the locations, contact the company or search on their website.

CNS Air Courier contact details

Community Network Services Ltd
204-207 Western Docks
Hampshire
SO15 1DA

Email: helpdesk@cnsonline.net or cnscommercial@cnsonline.net

Telephone: +44 (0)845 658 9930

Fax: +44 (0)23 8079 9600

Website: www.cnsonline.co.uk

Cargo Community Systems for the United Kingdom (CCS-UK)

CCS-UK is the CSP inventory used to control air cargo imports and exports at most UK airports.

Locations where CCS-UK is used

CCS-UK is used in most major UK airports.

For details on the locations, contact the company or search on their website.

CCS-UK contact details

Cargo Community System for the United Kingdom
BT Air Logistics
Ordinance Road
Aldershot
Hants
GU11 2AH

Email: ccs.enquiries@bt.com

Telephone: +44 (0) 845 607 0096

DHL Aviation (UK) Ltd

DHL Aviation (UK) Ltd is a system which is involved with all customs procedures at:

• import for third country traffic
• export to third countries

DHL Aviation (UK) Ltd is both the carrier and system user and only handles traffic for its own customers in the air environment.

Locations where DHL Aviation (UK) Ltd is used

DHL Aviation (UK) Ltd has its own locations at:

• East Midlands Airport
• London Heathrow Airport
• London Colney
• Manchester

For details on the locations, contact the company or search on their website.

DHL Aviation (UK) Ltd contact details

DHL Aviation (UK) Ltd
559 Shoreham Road West
Cargo Terminal
Heathrow Airport
Hounslow
Middlesex
TW6 3SJ

Telephone: 0208 283 4000

Website: www.DHL.com

Descartes Ltd

Descartes Ltd have a system name of Pentant.

Pentant have 3 systems within their core inventory controls:

• a truck based ETSF system for inland temporary storage import sites
• an air frontier inventory system for imports
• a marine frontier import system and export inventory system

Pentant also provide bespoke truck based inventory systems to the Dover clearance sites ‘Motis’ and ‘Stop24’.

Locations where Pentant is used

Pentant have a variety of inland temporary storage and fast parcel operators for their truck based ETSF system. They also use Dover clearance sites ‘Motis’ and ‘Stop24’.

For the air frontier system, Pentant use Warton Aerodrome amongst others.

For the marine frontier system, Pentant use Cardiff and a variety of smaller ports, wharfs and berths.

For details on the locations, contact the company or search on their website.

Descartes contact details

Salisbury House
27 Salisbury Road
Totton
Southampton
Hampshire
SO40 3HX

Email: servicedesk@descartes.com or info@descartes.com

Telephone:

• general enquiries 01249 477099
• service desk 0800 786 3390 (then select option 4, then option 6 or enter extension 293038)

Website: www.descartes.com/pentant

Maritime Cargo Processing

Maritime Cargo Processing (MCP) have a system name of Destin8.

Destin8 principally facilitates the processing of maritime traffic (unitised and RoRo) enabling cargo to be entered into relevant Import or Export customs procedures for onward movement.

Locations where Destin8 are used

Destin8 is linked to maritime port operations at over 100 UK locations including:

• Aberdeen
• Avonmouth
• Bristol
• Chatham
• Dagenham
• Felixstowe
• Glasgow
• Grangemouth
• Greenock
• Harwich
• Hull
• Immingham
• Ipswich
• Killingholme
• Liverpool
• London
• Thamesport
• Purfleet
• Teesport
• Tilbury
• Tyne

Destin8 also use over 200 ETSFs.

This list is not exhaustive. For details of all locations please contact MCP or read the information pack on their website.

MCP contact details

Maritime Cargo Processing plc (MCP plc)
The Chapel 
Maybush Lane 
Felixstowe
Suffolk 
IP11 7LL

Telephone: 01394 600205

Email: help@mcpplc.com

Website: www.mcpplc.com

HMRC liaison

Cargo Systems and Development Team
1st Floor
14 Westfield Avenue
Stratford
London
E20 1HZ