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Advance Electronic Cargo Information (Ocean AMS)

What is the Advanced Manifest Ruling?

The Advanced manifest ruling is a requirement to supply Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with detailed information on all inbound U.S. ocean shipments prior to boarding a vessel. The purpose of the new rule is to screen cargo before it is loaded so that CBP can decide on its loading / no loading status.

CBP is requiring detailed information on all shipments. The information required is a detailed description of the commodity, which may include the applicable HTS number.

By using the existing manifest system (known as AMS), the US government has implemented a means of assessing risk for individual containerized shipments before containers are loaded to a vessel. It is considered that the greatest protection to US ports is to prevent suspicious cargo from loading at the origin. Therefore, CPB will require all manifest information prior to cargo loading for all containerized shipments.

What is affected?

All containerized shipments are subject to the advance manifest requirements. Breakbulk shipments may be exempted on a "case by case" basis. Bulk shipments are exempt. For containerized shipments, the requirements apply to all US ports, all commodities, and all shippers.

How does this affect Shippers and Importers?

U.S. importers will need to communicate the following requirements to their overseas locations as well as suppliers.

  • Shipper's name and address
  • Consignee, owner or owner's representative name and address (in the case of "To Order" shipments, the name of the ultimate consignee, owner or owner's representative will be required)
  • Piece count, both in the container and at the lowest external packaging unit (cartons instead of pallets, for example).
  • Precise cargo description
  • Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) number to the 6-digit level (optional)

Suppliers must provide Expeditors offices with shipment information according to the carrier information cutoff at each origin. Each Expeditors office at origin has the ability to transmit into AMS via the Expeditors Transportation Management System. The transmission will be via EDI to CBP.

Expeditors' role as an NVOCC

  • Careful scrutiny of shipping documents to insure compliance.
  • Coordinate and establish cutoff times for the transmission of information to AMS.
  • Delays due to cargo not being loaded on vessels will be avoided.
  • Avoidance of unloading delays of cargo at destination including ships being refused the ability to enter and dock at U.S. ports.
  • Avoidance of possible fines and penalties.

Customs and Boarder Protection Vessel FAQ on the Trade Act of 2002 - Mandatory Advanced Electronic Cargo Information can be accessed via: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/communications_to_trade/advance_info/

Federal Register notice, Presentation of Vessel Cargo Declaration to Customs Before Cargo Is Laden Aboard Vessel at Foreign Port for Transport to the United States, can be accessed on-line at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/retrieve.html. 2002 Federal Register, Vol. 67, > Search terms: 66318.