Customers Advise: U.S. Customs 24 Hour Advance Manifest Rule
Customers Advise: U.S. Customs 24 Hour Advance Manifest Rule 
November 18th,2002
 
U.S. Customs Service has implemented a new Advance Manifest Rule, effective December 2, 2002, that will require significant changes to the shipment processes for all cargo on vessels that call on the United States. This will have an impact on many of our customers, as it requires that both shippers and carriers adopt new disciplines and processes to ensure timely manifesting and loading of cargo.
 
What are the “key-points” of this new rule?
  • Manifests must be submitted electronically to U.S. Customs for all shipments on vessels calling on U.S. ports 24 hours prior to loading from an overseas port (Includes cargo to be discharge in the US and in transit on board a vessel that calls the US.)
  • Manifests must include: precise description of cargo; full shipper and consignee details; and container seal numbers.
  • NVOCCs will be allowed to transmit manifest data directly to U.S. Customs, or can choose to have the underlying carrier manifest on their behalf.
  • Bulk cargoes : Exempt from the rulemaking.
  • Breakbulk cargoes: Exempt, but a U.S. Customs waiver is needed.
  • “FROB”: Foreing cargo remaining on-board (remaining on the vessel as it passes through U.S. Ports) will be required to transmit manifest information 24 Hrs in advance of loading at the port of origin.
  • Empty containers: The rulemaking is not applicable to empty containers
  • “Freight all Kinds” / “Said to contain”: Are also prohibited by US. Customs.
  • “To order Bills of Lading”: Must identify consignee/ owner of the cargo, or owner’s representative.
 
What do our Customers have to do?
  • U.S. importers will need to communicate with their origin vendors and suppliers to ensure that they provide complete manifest information significantly earlier in the shipment process.
  • Shippers will face a new manifest “cut-off” well in advance of our current vessel cut-offs. This will be necessary as CSAV must have above mentioned detailed information, or we will not be able to manifest your cargo, and US Customs will prevent us from loading it. More information can be find in the provided link that you can visit at your convenience.


Confirming our customers commitment, CSAV will deploy all its technical, operational and commercial resources placing them at our customers disposal so we can work together in order to reduce as much as possible the impact this new regulation might have in the normal trading of your goods into the United States.

At the same time, we will continue to work with U.S. Customs to clarify the outstanding issues. We will also be providing regular updates through www.csav.com

In the meantime, if you have specific queries or would like to discuss the Advance Manifest requirements, please contact your local CSAV Sales or Customer Service representative.



Kind Regards

Juan Antonio Alvarez
Deputy General Manager
Compańia SudAmericana de Vapores S.A.