U.S. CUSTOMS TO TEST REPORTING OF EMPTY BOXES

U.S. CUSTOMS TO TEST REPORTING OF EMPTY BOXES    U.S. Customs will soon begin testing vessel operators’ ability to electronically report empty containers 48 hours prior to arrival in the first U.S. port
   Starting June 2, vessel operators will transmit their empty containers through the agency’s Vessel Automated Manifest System Empty Container Module. The list must reflect the overseas loading port for each empty container.
   After the initial report filed through the system, vessel operators continuing coastwise along the United States must report containers remaining on board 24 hours after arrival in the first port of arrival. At least two hours before the vessel’s estimated time of arrival in each subsequent U.S. port, new empty container lists must be sent to the agency.
   Before leaving the final U.S. port, vessel operators are required to transmit final updated empty container lists to U.S. Customs. This will give the agency a total picture of which empty containers were off-loaded and loaded during the vessel’s time in the United States.
   U.S. Customs warned that “if the Empty Container Module registers or detects any error or omission in connection with the information transmitted for any container included on an electronic empty container list, the entire list will fail to be processed through the system.”
   “In such a case, the information for the container must be corrected or included on the list and the list re-transmitted to Customs in its entirety,” the agency said.
   U.S. Customs also said that any empty containers will be considered “automatically released” from the agency’s custody. Local agency port staff, however, reserves the right to hold empty containers for review. “The AMS Empty Container Module does not allow electronic holds to be placed on empty containers,” U.S. Customs said.
   Since 1997, U.S. Customs has required vessel operators to transmit empty container lists by ports of discharge through AMS or on paper Customs Form 1302 cargo declarations.
   U.S. Customs said advanced manifest information for inbound ocean cargo containers is crucial to the country’s war against international terrorism. Regulators fear that terrorist organizations may attempt to use containers to smuggle weapons of mass destruction into the United States.
   Effective Dec. 2, the agency requires all loaded containers to be reported by the carriers and non-vessel-operating common carriers 24 hours prior to loading on ships overseas.