EMP - Hamburg's New Export System (ZAPP Successor)
ZAPP has a successor. The Hamburg port IT operator - which runs the Port Community System (PCS) for Hamburg - has replaced the former ZAPP system with a new platform called EMP (Export Management Platform). This is the most significant change to Hamburg's export system in years. In this article we explain what EMP is, why ZAPP was renamed, what has actually changed, and what it means for exporters shipping goods through the Port of Hamburg.
What is EMP?
EMP (Export Management Platform) is the new export platform developed by the Hamburg port IT operator for the Port of Hamburg and other German ports. EMP replaces the former ZAPP system (Zoll-Ausfuhrüberwachung im Paperless Port), serving the same core function - automatically matching export declarations registered in the ATLAS customs system to vessel manifests provided by shipping lines.
EMP is not an entirely new system built from scratch. It is rather an evolution and expansion of the existing ZAPP, with a new name, a modernized interface, and additional functionality. The core of the system - the matching mechanism that links MRNs to containers on manifests - remains the same as in ZAPP.
The full name of the platform is DAKOSY Export Management Platform (EMP). The system is available to authorized users - customs agents, freight forwarders, terminal operators, and shipping lines operating in German ports. Exporters typically do not have direct access to EMP, just as they did not have direct access to ZAPP.
Why did ZAPP change its name to EMP?
The Hamburg port IT operator decided to rebrand for several reasons. First, the name ZAPP (Zoll-Ausfuhrüberwachung im Paperless Port) was closely tied to a single function - customs supervision of exports in a paperless port. Over the years, however, the platform grew to include functionality far beyond its original scope.
EMP (Export Management Platform) better reflects the current and future scope of the system. The platform now integrates not only customs functions but also export documentation management, communication between supply chain participants, shipment status tracking, and reporting. DAKOSY plans to further expand EMP with new modules and services.
The second reason is technical modernization. EMP is built on a more modern IT architecture, with improved API interfaces, better integration with external systems, and greater scalability. DAKOSY is gradually migrating components of the old ZAPP onto the new platform, adding new features along the way.
The third reason is DAKOSY's marketing strategy. The company is positioning EMP as the central export platform for all German ports, not just Hamburg. The new name - free of any reference to a specific port - allows for easier scaling to other ports and markets.
What changed in EMP vs ZAPP?
In practice, the differences between ZAPP and EMP are currently mostly cosmetic and infrastructural. Here is a detailed comparison.
What remains unchanged
- Z Number (Z-Nummer, Zoll-Nummer) - reference numbers assigned in ZAPP work without changes in EMP. The format and procedure for obtaining a Z Number are identical.
- B Number (B-Nummer, Booking-Nummer) - the booking number system has not changed.
- S Number (S-Nummer, Sendungsnummer) - shipment numbers remain compatible.
- Matching mechanism - the process of matching MRN to vessel manifest works the same way. The system compares container number, booking reference, and other data, exactly as ZAPP did.
- ATLAS integration - communication with the German customs system ATLAS is identical. The export confirmation (Ausgangsvermerk) is generated through the same process.
- Ports covered - EMP covers the same ports as ZAPP: Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Rostock, Kiel, Luebeck, Emden.
What has changed
- Name and branding - ZAPP is becoming EMP. Documents, interfaces, and DAKOSY communications are gradually adopting the new name.
- User interface - EMP offers a modernized web interface with improved navigation, responsive design, and better ergonomics.
- API and integrations - EMP provides modern API interfaces (REST API), making integration with forwarding and customs systems easier.
- New features (being rolled out gradually) - status dashboard, notifications, extended reporting, improved transhipment handling.
- Documentation - DAKOSY is updating its technical documentation, replacing references to ZAPP with references to EMP.
What does this mean for exporters?
Short answer: nothing changes in practice. If you exported goods through Hamburg and used the ZAPP system (directly or through an intermediary), your MRN closure process is identical in EMP.
The transition is automatic
The transition from ZAPP to EMP happens automatically on the DAKOSY side. It does not require re-registration or changes to customs data. An intermediary who handled MRN closures in ZAPP now handles them in EMP - without any additional steps.
Your reference numbers are still valid
All Z Numbers assigned by ZAPP remain valid in EMP. You do not need to obtain new numbers. If you have active export declarations with reference numbers from ZAPP, they are fully compatible with EMP.
The MRN closure procedure is identical
The MRN closure process in EMP follows exactly the same steps as in ZAPP: filing the export declaration, delivering goods to the port, loading onto the vessel, submission of the manifest by the shipping line, automatic matching in EMP, and generation of the export confirmation (Ausgangsvermerk) by ATLAS. Each of these steps works identically.
How does MRN closure work in EMP?
The MRN closure procedure in EMP is the same as in ZAPP. Below we describe how the entire process looks from the exporter's perspective.
Export declaration in the customs system
An electronic export declaration is filed in the AES system (in Poland via PUESC) with the complete set of export data and the port of exit indicated (e.g., Hamburg - DEHAM).
Delivery of goods to the port
The container is transported to the Port of Hamburg and accepted at the terminal. The acceptance is registered in the EMP system.
Loading and vessel departure
After the container is loaded onto the vessel and the ship departs the port, the shipping line submits the vessel manifest to the EMP system.
Automatic matching in EMP
The EMP system automatically compares the manifest data with the export declaration data in ATLAS. If the match is unambiguous, the MRN is closed.
Export confirmation generation
After the MRN is closed in EMP, the ATLAS system generates the export confirmation (Ausgangsvermerk) message and sends it to the customs office of export. The message arrives on the exporter's account in the customs system (in Poland - PUESC).
Official sources of information
Information about the transition from ZAPP to EMP can be found on the official website of the Hamburg port IT operator. The operator publishes updates about EMP, including technical documentation, information about new features, and the migration timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to re-register in EMP if I had a ZAPP account?
No. The transition from ZAPP to EMP does not require re-registration. All existing accounts, permissions, and access rights were automatically migrated to the new EMP platform. If your forwarder or port agent had access to ZAPP, they also have access to EMP. Reference numbers (Z-Nummer, B-Nummer, S-Nummer) assigned in ZAPP remain valid in EMP.
Are old Z Numbers assigned by ZAPP still valid in EMP?
Yes. Z Numbers (Z-Nummer, Zoll-Nummer) assigned by the ZAPP system remain fully valid in EMP. The EMP system maintains numbering continuity - all existing Z-Nummer, B-Nummer, and S-Nummer work without changes. New numbers assigned in EMP follow the same format and are fully compatible with the ATLAS system and the MRN closure procedure.
When will ZAPP be completely replaced by EMP?
The Hamburg port IT operator has not announced an official date for the complete withdrawal of the ZAPP name. Currently, both names are used in parallel - the new platform is called EMP (Export Management Platform), but many documents, interfaces, and processes still reference the ZAPP name. In practice, ZAPP is being gradually replaced by EMP, but the full naming migration is expected to take at least until the end of 2026. For exporters, the name change has no impact on procedures - MRN closure works identically.
Summary
EMP (Export Management Platform) is the successor to the ZAPP system in German ports, developed by the Hamburg port IT operator. The change primarily concerns the name, interface, and technical architecture - the MRN closure procedure remains identical. Z Numbers, B Numbers, and S Numbers assigned in ZAPP work without changes in EMP. Exporters do not need to take any additional action.
If you need to close an MRN in the Port of Hamburg or any other German port served by EMP - the procedure is the same as before. Prepare your MRN, container number, and booking reference, and the rest will be handled by the system or a specialist with access to the EMP platform.
Information based on documentation from the Hamburg port IT operator regarding the EMP (Export Management Platform). The Hamburg port IT operator runs EMP for the Port of Hamburg and other German ports. Legal basis: regulations of the Generalzolldirektion (GZD) regarding the ATLAS system and MRN closure procedure.
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