Kiel, Germany
Customs clearance in Kiel
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Kiel. Customs clearance in Germany is handled by our own in-house customs team.
Industries in Kiel and how we support them
Kiel is a centre of shipbuilding, naval and maritime technology. thyssenkrupp Marine Systems builds submarines in Kiel, and German Naval Yards Kiel builds naval and commercial vessels. Marine research and maritime suppliers complete the cluster. Freight includes ship parts, marine equipment and spare parts for vessels, often needed urgently at a port somewhere in the world. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for ship spare parts, air freight under our own air waybills via HAM or FRA, sea freight via Hamburg, and export clearance by our own customs team, including export control checks for naval equipment.
Operational logistics facts for Kiel
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Kiel | Ferry and trailer services to Norway, Sweden and Lithuania | Road-ferry option for Scandinavian and Baltic shipments |
| Kiel Canal | Shipping link between North Sea and Baltic | Shortcut for vessels avoiding the route around Denmark |
| Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Belly cargo | Nearest airport for Kiel air freight |
| Shipbuilding and naval cluster | Ship spare parts and marine equipment | OBC and NFO for vessels waiting in port |
Airports, seaports and connections in Kiel
- AirportHamburg
HAM - SeaportPort of Kiel, Kiel Canal
Kiel has no airport with cargo services; its air gateway is Hamburg Airport (HAM), reached via the A7 and A215, with Frankfurt (FRA) used for freighter connections via road feeder. Kiel's own Port of Kiel is a major ferry and cruise port with regular ferry services to Norway, Sweden and Lithuania, and it lies at the eastern entrance of the Kiel Canal, the busiest artificial waterway in the world. Deep-sea containers move via Hamburg.
The A7 links Kiel with Hamburg and Denmark via the A215 and A210, and the A21 runs south towards Bad Segeberg. Ferry routes from Kiel include Oslo, Gothenburg and Klaipėda, carrying trailers and trucks as well as passengers. The Kiel Canal connects the North Sea and the Baltic Sea without the detour around Denmark.
Clearance by our own team in Germany
In Germany our own customs team files the declarations. Questions about classification, valuation or missing documents are answered directly by the people who prepare the entry, without a third party in between.
Customs clearance in Germany
In-house customs team
Customs clearance in Germany is handled by our own in-house customs team.
For air freight to and from Germany we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Germany need an EORI number issued by German Customs.
Avoiding delays at customs
Most customs delays come from inconsistent documents: different values on invoice and packing list, missing HS codes or unclear goods descriptions. We review the documents against each other before departure, so the declaration in Germany can be filed without queries.
Frequently asked questions
How are spare parts for ships in transit declared?
Supplies for vessels can be treated as ship stores or goods for ships under specific customs rules, depending on the situation. Our own customs team checks which procedure applies and prepares the export or transit documents.
Do naval equipment exports from Kiel need licences?
Military goods require an export licence, and many maritime components fall under dual-use rules. We check classification and licence requirements, including BAFA licences, before filing the export declaration.
Do ferry shipments from Kiel to Norway need customs documents?
Yes. Norway is not in the EU, so goods shipped by ferry to Oslo need an EU export declaration and Norwegian import clearance. We prepare the export side in ATLAS and coordinate the documents for the import.