Press Release

LCL Navigation to Assess Documentation Processing Fee

LCL Navigation has announced that they will be charging a Documentation Processing Fee of US$15 per bill of lading for all destinations effective with bookings made after June 5, 2003.

This fee is to compensate for the onerous work involved in the verification of customs documentation and the proper reporting to U.S. and Canadian Customs under the respective new regulations.

U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection requires that detailed cargo manifest information be submitted to them at least 24 hours before any container is loaded on board a vessel that will be calling at a U.S. port.  The fine for incorrect information or late filing is US$5,000 for the first violation and US$10,000 thereafter.  The penalties will be charged against the international carrier bond filed with the U.S. Bureau of Customs and may be passed on by the carrier to the party responsible for making inaccurate cargo declarations.

Similarly, Canada Customs [CCRA] will also be enforcing the advance filing requirement of the B13A export declaration.  AMPS [Administrative Monetary Penalty System] fine for improper declarations or late filing is $1,000 for the 2^nd offence, $2,000 for the 3^rd offence and $3,000 for each infraction thereafter.  The fine will be levied by CCRA against the exporter.  Furthermore, CCRA Targeting and Analysis Units will be examining certain export shipments.  The penalty for goods not being on hand for examination is a separate $1,000 AMPS fine.  Containers that are tracked down in transit for examination will incur additional CEF [Customs Examination Facility] charges of minimum $800 handling per container.

As part of the agreement between carriers and CCRA under the new Reporting of Exported Goods Regulation, there will be a “no-load” policy by carriers, including consolidators, unless a B13A has been properly filed.   In order to help its clients avoid hefty fines and potential disruptions to containers in transit, LCL Navigation will be verifying all export declarations or undertake to file B13As with CCRA on behalf of its clients. To this end, LCL Navigation has made an easy on-line export declaration available at its eBLISS website.

For further information concerning the U.S. Customs 24 hour AMS rule as well as CCRA’s new B13A regulations and LCL Navigation’s US$15 Documentation Processing Fee, please contact your customer service representative.