OCEAN CARRIERS TO TEST CUSTOMS? AES

OCEAN CARRIERS TO TEST CUSTOMSÆ AES    Ocean carriers will soon begin transmitting transport data to U.S. Customs through the Automated Export System.
   The agency set up its AES vessel transportation module last year. It will conduct a “limited release” of the system in Charleston, S.C., starting June 26, and plans to roll it out nationwide by the end of July.
   “We picked Charleston because of its central location on the East Coast and for its volume of container traffic,” said Charles Bartoldus, deputy director of outbound programs at Customs.
   P&O Nedlloyd became the first carrier to successfully complete the Vessel Transportation Certification Test in AES. Several other carriers will also be certified by the end of June.
   Customs uses transportation data to know when cargo is leaving the country. Without it, AES would only capture export commodity data sent by the exporter or forwarder.
   “The transportation module will greatly enhance our ability to target high-risk shipments,” said Dean Groseclose, program officer for Customs’ outbound programs division. “AES will receive booking data prior to the departure of the vessel for all shipments.”
   The module will also save inspectors countless hours from having to sift through paper export documents at carrier offices.