International Trade Today is a Warren News publication.

CBP Clarifies its Instructions on the New Sea AMS NVOCC and Master VOCC Bill Types

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message which clarifies its previously issued instructions on the Special Bill programming (new non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) and Master vessel operating common carrier (VOCC) bill types) for Sea Automated Manifest System (AMS) which was moved into production during the normally scheduled system outage on 11:00 p.m. EST Saturday, January 10, 2004 to 3:00 a.m. EST Sunday, January 11, 2004.

Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article

If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/13/04 and 01/09/04 news, 04011305 and 04010905, for BP summaries of CBP's previously issued instructions on these bill types.)

Bills of lading manifested, created, or amended on/after January 10, 2004 at 11 pm. CBP states that for all bills of lading manifested, created, or amended on or after 11:00 p.m. EST on January 10, 2004, entries transmitted via ABI which cover ocean cargo should report the Master Vessel Bill as the "Master" bill in the entry data. CBP further states that filers will discontinue the practice of filing directly against the House (NVOCC) bill.

Bills of lading manifested or created prior to January 10, 2004 at 11 pm. According to CBP, bills of lading manifested or created prior to 11:00 p.m. EST on January 10, 2004, and which have not been amended after implementation date, will require that entries transmitted via ABI for ocean cargo report the bill of lading number of the party responsible for manifesting the cargo. CBP notes that this is the practice that has been performed by the filer since the implementation of the 24-hour rule.

CBP further states that questions regarding this matter should be referred to the filer's assigned client representative.

CBP ABI administrative message (Adm: 04-0070, dated 01/14/04) availablefromBP via email or fax by emailing staff@brokerpower.com.