Turn your Portbase services into an API

What you can build on Portbase

• Get B/L status from Cargo Controller Import

  Build this

  Reads one B/L in Cargo Controller Import: the ship and container milestones, the expected unloading time and the customs inspections and releases.

  Takes

  B/L number

  Returns

  B/L number, vessel, ETA, ATA, containers, expected unloading time, terminal departure time, inspection, release

• Check container status before prenotifying

  Build this

  Requests a container's status from the terminal in HCN Road, before you prenotify the visit.

  Takes

  Container number, terminal

  Returns

  Container number, terminal, status as the terminal reports it

• Get handling confirmations from HCN Road

  Build this

  Reads your prenotified containers in HCN Road with their status and the discharge or loading confirmation once a container has been handled.

  Takes

  Terminal (optional), visit date (optional)

  Returns

  Container number, terminal, visit date, status, discharge or loading confirmation

• Prenotify a truck visit in HCN Road

  Build this

  Prenotifies a driver visit and its container to a terminal or depot in HCN Road, with a slot request where that terminal offers one.

  Takes

  Terminal or depot, container number, visit date, slot (optional)

  Returns

  Container number, terminal, visit date, status

Automate Portbase with a workflow

A workflow runs your methods as one process, with nobody at the screen. A schedule or a call from your own system starts it, the steps run in order, and the result arrives in your inbox or in the systems you already use.

• Open B/Ls with an inspection or a new release

  Build this

  Starts

  Every weekday at 7:00

  Step 1

  For each open B/L you list, get its status from Cargo Controller Import.

  Step 2

  Keep the containers whose inspection or release changed since the last run.

  Step 3

  Email you the list by B/L, with vessel, ETA and expected unloading time.

• Container status checks for tomorrow's truck plan

  Build this

  Starts

  When your planning system calls the workflow's webhook with containers and terminals

  Step 1

  For each container sent, check its status at the terminal in HCN Road.

  Step 2

  Post container number, terminal and status back to your planning system's webhook.

• Discharge and loading confirmations to your TMS

  Build this

  Starts

  Every 30 minutes on weekdays

  Step 1

  Get the handling confirmations for your prenotified containers in HCN Road.

  Step 2

  Keep the confirmations that were not there on the last run.

  Step 3

  Post container number, terminal and confirmation to your TMS webhook.

You can run a workflow by hand on every plan, Free included. Schedules and webhook triggers come with the paid plans, from $29 a month.

Once built, one call from your code

Once you have built a method, it is one POST to /v1/runs from your backend, or a tool an AI agent calls over MCP. This is what “Get B/L status from Cargo Controller Import” would look like.

curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "method": "pcs.portbase.com/get_bl_status",
    "input": {
      "bl_number": "ACME2611045"
    }
  }'

{
  "status": "completed",
  "data": {
    "bl_number": "ACME2611045",
    "vessel": "Northwind Trader",
    "eta": "2026-11-13T05:30:00+01:00",
    "ata": null,
    "containers": [
      {
        "container_number": "ACMU4417203",
        "expected_unloading_time": "2026-11-13T14:00:00+01:00",
        "terminal_departure_time": null,
        "inspection": true,
        "released": false
      }
    ]
  }
}

An example with invented data, not a ready-made endpoint. The method exists in your organization once you build it, and its name, inputs and fields follow your request.

Portbase’s own options

Portbase links each service to your own software as a system link, for a one-time €249.50 per service. Some services, such as Cargo Controller Import and HCN Road, have an API with JSON messages; others exchange EDIFACT, XML or CSV over SFTP, SMTP or AS2. Most services also have web screens, and some, such as Import Status, have only those.

Read on November 12, 2026: Portbase system links, Cargo Controller Import, Hinterland Container Notification Road.

Signing in to Portbase

Portbase signs you in with an IAMconnected account: your email address, a password and MFA through an authenticator app such as Microsoft or Google Authenticator. Your organisation's main administrator manages who has access. With Fous you sign in through Portbase's own sign-in with your own account; the login is sealed with AES-256 and never returned by the API or written to logs.

Worth knowing

Each service is requested and signed for

You request every service separately. Portbase verifies the request and your authorized representative signs the contract, which takes 2 to 3 working days on average.

The main administrator controls access

Whoever registers the organisation becomes its main administrator. Only that person can change company details and appoint user administrators, who give employees access.

Cargo Controller Import is billed per B/L

Besides €79.57 a month, each B/L requested costs €0.44, excluding VAT. From 1 January 2027 the fees are €81.96 a month and €0.45 per B/L.

Import Status covers UK cargo only

Import Status shows the customs status of cargo arriving from the UK at shortsea and ferry terminals, in web screens only. For other cargo, Portbase points you to Cargo Controller Import.

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