Pursuant
to Customs regulations effective
December 2, 2002, Carrier is required to submit
certain cargo declaration
data for all cargo on board a vessel that will call
in the United States
(i.e., U.S. import cargo and foreign destination
cargo remaining on board
the vessel) to the U.S. Customs Service not later
than 24 hours prior to
the time the cargo is loaded on Carrier's vessel in
the non-U.S. port of loading.
In order to enable Carrier to comply with this
requirement, except as
provided in paragraph B of this rule, any person
tendering cargo to Carrier
that is to be transported to the United States or
that will be on a vessel
when that vessel calls in the United States must
submit the following
information regarding such cargo to Carrier in
writing (including by
electronic transmission) not later than twenty four
(24) hours prior to the
cutoff time for the delivery of cargo to be loaded
on the vessel.
1. A precise description of the cargo (or the 6-digit HTS number under
which cargo is classified) and weight of the cargo or, for a sealed
container, the shipper's declared description and weight of the cargo.
The quantity of cargo shall be expressed in the lowest external
packaging unit (e.g., a container containing 10 pallets with 200 cases
shall be described as 200 cases). Generic descriptions such as "FAK,"
"General Cargo," "Chemicals," "Foodstuffs," and "Said to Contain" are
NOT acceptable descriptions.
2. Shipper's complete name and address, or the identification number
issued to the shipper by the Customs Service upon implementation of
the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
3. Complete name and address of the consignee, owner or owner's
representative, or its ACE identification number.
4. Internationally recognized hazardous material code when such materials
are being shipped.
5. Seal numbers for all seals affixed to the container.
Non-vessel operating common carriers ("NVOCCs") that are licensed by or
registered with the FMC and that have obtained Customs bonds may submit
the required inbound cargo declaration data directly to the U.S. Customs Service.
For purposes of this provision, an NVOCC is registered with the FMC if
it has been issued an Organization Number by the FMC, published a valid
and effective tariff, and posted the required financial security with the FMC.
Any
FMC-licensed or registered NVOCC with a
Customs bond that tenders cargo that will be on
board a vessel when it
calls in the United States and provides the
required cargo declaration
data for that cargo directly to the Customs Service
shall identify the
Underlining Carrier as "Second Notify
Party" in the data submitted to the
Customs Service. (Underlining carrier is the VOCC
operating or maintaining
a slot charter arrangements for the vessel).
Until such time as Underlining Carrier informs the
NVOCC that the identification
of Underlining Carrier as Second Notify Party
permits the Underlining Carrier to
ascertain which cargo may be loaded, the NVOCC
shall be required to provide the
certification described in subparagraph B(2) below.
Any
NVOCC that submits cargo declaration information
directly to the Customs Service shall, unless
notified by the Carrier
pursuant to subparagraph B(1) above that it is not
required to do so,
in lieu of the information required to be submitted
pursuant to
paragraph A of this rule, provide the Underlining
Carrier, not less than
twenty four (24) hours prior to the cutoff time for
the delivery of cargo
to be loaded on the vessel in the Underlining
Carrier's published schedule,
with a written certification stating that the
required inbound cargo declaration
data for its cargo has been transmitted to the U.S.
Customs Service in a
timely and accurate manner. Such certification
shall describe the cargo
tendered with sufficient specificity (including
container number) that
Underlining Carrier may readily identify such
cargo.
For
purposes of this subparagraph B(3), the term "Master NVOCC" shall
mean
the NVOCC that is the customer of the Underlining
Carrier and tenders co-loaded
cargo to the Underlining Carrier in its name.
In the event the Master NVOCC submits cargo
declaration data for
co-loaded cargo directly to the Customs Service, it
shall do so for all
NVOCCs with which it co-loads and it shall comply with
subparagraph
B(1) and/or B(2) above. In the event the Master
NVOCC does not submit
cargo declaration data for co-loaded cargo directly
to the Customs
Service but NVOCCs with
which it co-loads transmit cargo declaration
data for their cargoes directly to the Customs
Service, it shall be the
obligation of the Master NVOCC to provide
Underlining Carrier with the
certification described in subparagraph B(2) with respect to all co-loaded cargo
tendered to Underlining Carrier by the Master
NVOCC.
All NVOCCs shall be subject to Paragraphs C and D of this rule.
1. In the event Carrier fails to provide the required inbound cargo
declaration data to the U.S. Customs Service for all cargo to be loaded
on its vessel within the time period required by Customs Service
regulations it may, among other things, be assessed a civil penalty,
denied permission to unload the cargo for which information was not
timely provided, and/or denied permission to unload any cargo from the
vessel on which the cargo is moving.
Accordingly, Carrier may refuse to load any cargo tendered to it for
which it has not received either
(i) the data required by paragraph A of this rule by the deadline
specified therein; or
(ii) the certification required by paragraph B of this rule by the
deadline specified therein.
2. Any and all costs incurred by Carrier with respect to cargo in its
possession which is not loaded due to the non-provision of information
or certification, or which is not loaded pursuant to the instructions
of the U.S. Customs Service (regardless of whether or not the required
data or certification has been provided for such cargo), including but
not limited to inspection, storage and/or re-delivery costs, shall be
for the account of the cargo. Carrier shall have a lien on cargo in its
possession for amounts due hereunder and may hold cargo until such
amounts (and any other unpaid freights or charges) are paid or sell such
cargo after a reasonable period. In the event Carrier is forced to take
legal action to collect amounts due hereunder, Carrier shall be entitled
to recover all costs (including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection
with such legal action.
If Carrier is assessed a civil penalty or denied permission to unload cargo,
then any and all shippers, consignees, cargo owners, NVOCCs and their
agent(s) that failed to provide the information required by this rule and/or
by the regulations of the U.S. Customs Service in a complete and accurate
manner shall be jointly and severally liable to indemnify and reimburse
Carrier for any such penalty and any and all costs incurred by the Carrier as
a result of the denial of permission to unload cargo.
Carrier shall have a lien on cargo in its possession for amounts due hereunder
and may hold cargo until such amounts (and any other unpaid freights or
charges) are paid or sell such cargo after a reasonable period.
In the event Carrier is forced to take legal action to collect amounts due
hereunder, Carrier shall be entitled to recover all costs (including
attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with such legal action.
(effective 08/01/2003)