In December 2002, US Customs Regulations were amended and published in the Customs Federal Register (CFR) to enact a 24-hour Advance Manifest Policy applicable to all cargo bound for the US.
The rule requires all ocean carriers or NVOCC’s (non vessel operating common carriers) to submit a complete cargo manifest to US Customs at least 24 hours prior to cargo loading if that vessel is calling a US port direct. The rule extends to cargo transitting US ports and remaining on board the vessel for subsequent discharge at a non-US port.
For US cargo moving via Canadian ports, US Customs works in tandem with their Canadian counterparts.
Details of cargo manifest must be based on actual declaration of cargo by the shipper, and must be submitted no later than the OOCL cargo declarations cut off deadline at cargo origin.
The 24-hour period is measured against the scheduled commencement of loading for each non-US port to a vessel destined or transitting a US port.
Failure to comply with this rule could result in cargo hold at origin port, significant penalties against the carrier or NVOCC, along with the removal of container for inspection by US customs and/or the denial of permission to unload vessel cargo and the possibility of returning the cargo to the load port.
OOCL enrolled in the 24-Advance Cargo Manifest Rule and is a Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certified carrier. Click here for more details on OOCL's C-TPAT certification.
US Customs Q&A
A detailed Q&A document has been issued by US Customs as well and can be found at http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/carriers/24hour_rule/. More information on this topic may be found at www.worldshipping.org or here at US Customs and Border Protection.