0. INTRODUCTION
1. SCOPE
   1. Functional definition
   2. Field of application
   3. Principles
2. REFERENCES
3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
4. MESSAGE DEFINITION
   1. Data segment clarification
   2. Data segment index (alphabetical sequence)
   3. Message structure
      1. Segment table

This specification provides the definition of the Container announcement message (COPARN) to be used in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) between trading partners involved in administration, commerce and transport.

The message contains an order to release, to make available, to accept or to call down containers or to announce the impending arrival of containers.

This message is part of a total set of container-related messages. These messages serve to facilitate the intermodal handling of containers by streamlining the information exchange. The business scenario for the container messages is clarified in a separate document, called: 'Guide to the scenario of EDIFACT container messages'.

The Container announcement message may be used for both national and international trade. It is based on universal commercial practice and is not dependent on the type of business or industry.

Business area: Pre- and on-carriage transport of containers/equipment

Sending functions include: Shipper, Freight forwarder, Shipping agent, Container freight station, Consignee

Receiving functions include: Freight forwarder, Shipping agent, Container terminal, Inland terminal, Container depot, Container freight station

In the context of the 'Guide to the scenario of EDIFACT container messages' (as referred to at the start of section 1) the following guidelines, rules and functionality apply to this Container announcement message:

• The message contents can be uniquely identified by a combination of the following data elements:

• ordering customer, coded (NAD)
• ordering customer agent, coded (NAD)
• container announcement reference number (RFF)
• related container announcement reference (reference to container disposition order) (RFF)

The ordering customer agent, coded is needed to supplement the unique identification only in the next situation: the agent acts on behalf of several ordering customers issuing the same range of reference numbers for each customer. E.g. the ship's agent acts on behalf of several shipping lines issuing for each shipping line the same range of numbers.

• One shipping line, one seagoing vessel, one sea voyage number and one shipping agent can be specified on message top level.
• An indicator for the transport status (i.e., export, import, transhipment or continental) can be completed on container level (EQD-segment).
• One message may contain several containers identified by their prefix and number or several equipment guidelines for groups of (empty) containers.
• If the container prefix and number is unknown (in the Empty container disposition order or Container release order), a supplementary container reference number (Container sequence number) is used to identify a container group in the message to be able to refer to this information of the container(s) in e.g. the Container release order or the Container gate-in/gate-out message.
• In case of an Empty container disposition order several equipment guidelines can be specified in the message in order to load (empty) containers that cannot be identified by their full prefix and serial numbers. In case of a guideline a combination of size and type and/or a certain range of equipment serial numbers (container prefix and numbers) can be given for a group of one or several containers.
• Inland transport details can be specified for each individual container or can be specified on message level (for all containers in the message); the two options must not be used simultaneously.
• An inland transport charges reference or a sea booking reference can be specified either on message level (related to all containers in the message) or for each individual container; the two options must not be used simultaneously.
• In case of an Empty container disposition order or a Call down order the place of positioning, related reference and date/time of positioning of the containers can be specified either on message level (related to all goods items in the message) or for each individual goods item (as the place where the goods item is to be stuffed or stripped); the two options must not be used simultaneously. In the latter case up to 10 places of positioning for each goods item to be stripped from or stuffed in the container(s) can be included in the message.
• In case of an Acceptance order the date and time of positioning of the containers at the place of positioning can be specified for each individual container.
• The final place of positioning can be included in case of routing via an inland terminal or several container freight stations (for stacking purposes).
• For each container up to 3 communication addresses can be specified to which a copy of the Container gate-in/gate-out report message is to be sent.
• For each container details can be specified such as container prefix and number, size/type, loading instructions, special instructions, seals, temperature, dangerous goods and off-dimensions details.
• In case of export the port of discharge and a port of transhipment can be specified for each individual container.
• A goods item may be detailed, such as number and type of packages, goods description, gross weight, dangerous goods information and special instruction.
• Goods item information can be related to the corresponding containers by linking the goods item group (GID) to the container details group(s) (EQD) by means of the SGP-segment.
• In case of export for each goods item up to 9 declarant's reference numbers can be given; in case of goods declaration (Customs) at the place of stuffing also 9 accompanying (Customs) documents can be given.

See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.6 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction, Section 1.

See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.6 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction, Section 2.

This section should be read in conjunction with the Branching Diagram and the Segment Table which indicate mandatory, conditional and repeating requirements.

0010 | UNH, Message header

A service segment starting and uniquely identifying a message. The message type code for the Container announcement message is COPARN.

Note: Container announcement messages conforming to this document must contain the following data in segment UNH, composite S009:

0020 BGM, Beginning of message

A segment to indicate the beginning of a message and to transmit identifying number and the further specification of the message type (in data element 1001: Document/message name, coded), such as Empty container disposition order, Release order, Pre-arrival notice, Acceptance order, Empty container notice, Call-down order.

0030 TMD, Transport movement details

A segment to specify the haulage arrangement for the containers in the message, such as carrier haulage or merchant haulage.

0040 TSR, Transport service requirements

A segment to identify whether arrangements for the inland transport are to be made, whether equipment guidelines are applicable, whether Customs clearance is to be arranged and pick-up/delivery instructions.

0050 FTX, Free text

A segment to specify free form or processable supplementary information, such as: - change information - special instructions

0060 RFF, Reference

A segment to express a reference which applies to the entire message, such as: - container announcement reference number - booking reference number - reference to previous message

0070 Segment Group 1: TDT-RFF-LOC-DTM

A group of segments to indicate details of the movement of containers by sea and by inland carriers, such as mode and means of transport, and locations.

0080 TDT, Details of transport

A segment to indicate the main carriage stage of the transport (sea), such as voyage number/indication sea transport, vessel and carrier/liner. Information on related pre-carriage stage(s) can also be included, such as mode, indication of inland transport (road, rail and inland water) and inland carrier.

0090 RFF, Reference

A segment to provide a reference for the liner service, such as: - conference - marketing organization - syndicate - vessel sharing agreement

0100 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to indicate a place/port corresponding to the transport stage, such as final place/port of discharge or port of loading.

0110 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate the arrival date and time of an inland means of transport, such as: - arrival date/time, estimated

0120 Segment Group 2: NAD-CTA-RFF-DTM

A group of segments to identify a party and/or addresses and a related contact and references.

0130 NAD, Name and address

A segment to identify the party's name and address, and function, and other addresses, such as: - ordering customer - ordering customer agent - message recipient - message sender - place of positioning - place of collection - final place of positioning - carrier agent (sea) - charges payer

0140 CTA, Contact information

A segment to identify a person or department of a message sender and/or message recipient, such as: - information contact

0150 RFF, Reference

A segment to identify a reference used by a party or at an address, such as: - reference at place of collection - reference at place of positioning - related container announcement reference (reference to Container disposition order) - transport costs reference number

0160 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate a date and time applying to the party, such as: - ultimate equipment positioning date/time - requested equipment positioning date/time

0170 Segment Group 3: GID-HAN-FTX-RFF-PIA-SG4-MEA-DIM-DOC-SG5-SG6

A group of segments to describe the goods items (to be) stuffed in or (to be) stripped from the containers.

0180 GID, Goods item details

A segment to identify a goods item (to be) stuffed in or (to be) stripped from the containers. A goods item can be identified by a goods item number.

0190 HAN, Handling instructions

A segment to specify handling instructions relating to the goods item, such as: - hazardous cargo - off-dimensions - Customs clearance

0200 FTX, Free text

A segment to describe the goods item or to provide special instructions.

0210 RFF, Reference

A segment to identify a reference to a goods item in case of export, such as: - shipowner's authorization number - declarant's reference number

0220 PIA, Additional product id

A segment to identify a commodity code.

0230 Segment Group 4: NAD-DTM-RFF

A group of segments to describe the address, reference and date/time for the stuffing or the stripping of the goods item in the containers.

0240 NAD, Name and address

A segment to identify the address applicable to the particular goods item, such as: - place of positioning (as the stuffing or stripping address for the goods item) - Customs clearance place

0250 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate a date and time when the container is to be positioned, such as: - requested equipment positioning date/time - ultimate equipment positioning date/time

0260 RFF, Reference

A segment to identify a reference used by a party or at an address, such as: - reference at place of positioning

0270 MEA, Measurements

A segment to specify measurements, other than dimensions, applicable to a goods item, such as: - gross weight

0280 DIM, Dimensions

A segment to specify dimensions applicable to a goods item, such as: - gross dimensions

0290 DOC, Document/message details

A segment to specify a document prepared for a goods item.

0300 Segment Group 5: SGP-MEA

A group of segments to specify the distribution of a goods item among the containers.

0310 SGP, Split goods placement

A segment to identify a container in which goods are transported.

0320 MEA, Measurements

A segment to specify the gross weight of that portion of the goods item in the container, such as: - gross weight - net net weight (dangerous goods)

0330 Segment Group 6: DGS-FTX-MEA

A group of segments to specify dangerous goods details related to the goods item. One goods item may be in different dangerous goods classes.

0340 DGS, Dangerous goods

A segment to indicate the dangerous goods regulations for the corresponding mode of transport, class of dangerous goods, additional dangerous goods code, UN-number and shipment flash point.

0350 FTX, Free text

A segment to specify supplementary details related to the dangerous goods, such as: - dangerous goods technical name - dangerous goods additional information

0360 MEA, Measurements

A segment to specify measurements of the dangerous goods, such as: - net net weight

0370 Segment Group 7: EQD-RFF-EQN-TMD-DTM-TSR-LOC-MEA-DIM-TMP-RNG-

SEL-FTX-DGS-MOA-GOR-EQA-SG8-SG9-SG10 A group of segments to specify containers in which goods are

0380 EQD, Equipment details

A segment to specify a container, container size and type, and full/empty indication; also to specify the type of rail car on which a related container is transported.

0390 RFF, Reference

A segment to specify the identifying number associated with the container, such as: - container sequence number - lower equipment serial number of range - upper equipment serial number of range - referring sequence number - reference at place of positioning - reference at place of collection - related container announcement reference (reference to Empty container disposition order) - transport costs reference number

0400 EQN, Number of units

A segment to specify the number of containers of the same size and type in case of equipment guidelines.

0410 TMD, Transport movement details

A segment to indicate a Full Container Load (FCL) or a Less than Full Container Load (LCL).

0420 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate a date and time relating to the container, such as: - estimated positioning date/time - ultimate release date/time

0430 TSR, Transport service requirements

A segment to specify special instructions and/or services regarding the container, such as: fork lift holes required, off-dimensions, ship's agent's counter by terminal, seals to be checked, damage to be inspected, Customs clearance.

0440 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to specify ports/locations associated with the sea transport of a container in case of export, such as: - place of discharge - transhipment place

0450 MEA, Measurements

A segment to specify measurement, other than dimensions, associated with the container, such as: - tare weight - gross weight

0460 DIM, Dimensions

- off-standard dimensions, general - off-standard dimensions, front - off-standard dimensions, rear - off-standard dimensions, right - off-standard dimensions, left - off-standard dimensions, height - external equipment dimensions - dimensions equipment door - net dimensions

0470 TMP, Temperature

A segment to specify the transport temperature setting of a container.

0480 RNG, Range details

A segment to specify the transport temperature range or the pre-tripping range of a container.

0490 SEL, Seal number

A segment to identify seal and seal issuer associated with the container, such as shipper, consolidator, carrier (sea) and Customs.

0500 FTX, Free text

A segment to specify processable supplementary information associated with the container, such as: - loading instructions (seagoing vessel) - special instructions (related to inland transport) - container order information (conditions to be checked) - remarks

0510 DGS, Dangerous goods

A segment to indicate the contamination of the equipment, e.g. by UN-number.

0520 MOA, Monetary amount

A segment to indicate a liability amount relating to the equipment.

0530 GOR, Governmental requirements

A segment to indicate if governmental inspection is required.

0540 EQA, Attached equipment

A segment to identify related container and means of transport details (rail), such as: - rail car (to relate to the 'rail-car'-qualified EQD-group)

0550 Segment Group 8: DAM-COD

A group of segments to specify damage details related to the equipment.

0560 DAM, Damage

A segment to specify equipment damages, such as the point of the damage on the equipment, and the type of damage.

0570 COD, Component details

A segment to specify component details of the damaged equipment.

0580 Segment Group 9: TDT-LOC-DTM

A group of segments to indicate information related to the pre- or on-carriage transport stage of the equipment.

0590 TDT, Details of transport

A segment to indicate transport details related to the pre- or on-carriage transport stage, such as mode, identification of inland transport (road rail, inland water), type of transport means and inland carrier.

0600 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to specify ports/locations associated with the pre- or on-carriage transport, such as: - place of departure - place of arrival

0610 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to specify a date/time relating to the pre- or on-carriage transport, such as arrival or departure date/time.

0620 Segment Group 10: NAD-DTM-CTA-COM

A group of segments to identify different parties/places, and related dates/times.

0630 NAD, Name and address

A segment to specify a related address or party, such as: - charges payer - country/place of container stuffing - place of collection - final place of positioning - message to - next destination - release to party

0640 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate a date and time relating to the container, such as: - earliest equipment collection date/time

0650 CTA, Contact information

A segment to identify a person or department for the specified party.

0660 COM, Communication contact

A segment to identify the communication number on the EDI-network (e.g. mailbox number) to whom a copy of the Container gate-in/gate-out report message should be sent.

0670 CNT, Control total

A segment to specify the number of containers in the message, explicitly given by the sender.

0680 UNT, Message trailer

A service segment ending a message, giving the total number of segments in the message and the control reference number of the message.