Columbus Shipping & Trading Agency, Inc.
Based at the Port of Cleveland, Ohio
(8/1/03): Due to potential City of Cleveland redevelopment of our office space at 103 Erieside Ave, Cleveland, we have moved the office to nearby Westlake, OH. New address is P.O. Box 45341, Westlake OH 44145-0341. Tel 440-617-9907, Fax 440-617-9908.
(10/30/03): US IMPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL - (source: APHIS) APHIS has published a Draft Rule for new requirements concerning the importation of wood packaging material. The comment period for the rule ended on July 21, 2003 (see below). APHIS is currently finalizing the Rule based on these comments. APHIS was targeting January 1, 2004 for implementation, however, this target implementation date is now being adjusted to April or May of 2004. In anticipation of finalization of the Rule APHIS is encouraging all importers to meet the conditions of ISPM 15 and the Draft Rule which require that all wood packaging material be appropriately treated and marked under an official program developed and overseen by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) in the country of export. Even though APHIS is not anticipating the finalization of the Rule until later in 2004, APHIS will start issuing notices to the NPPOs for material not appropriately treated and marked starting in January of 2004. These notices will clearly state our intention of implementation later in the year and will serve as an information dissemination tool. No additional action will be taken on noncompliant material at this time. APHIS will follow it's current policy for wood packaging material until the new Rule goes into effect.
(12/5/03): SEA-AMS RULE: (source: CBP) The Required Advance Electronic Presentation of Cargo Information;
Final Rule that was published on December 5, 2003, requires that
manifest data be submitted to CBP electronically by all modes (i.e.,
air, rail, sea). Beginning March 4, 2004, all incoming vessel cargo must be in Sea
AMS. This applies to container, bulk and break bulk cargo.
The final rule requires that each carrier:
1. Obtain a Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) available from
the National Motor Freight Traffic
Association (703) 838-1810 or nmfta website.
2. Possess a International Carrier Bond.
NOTE: If they do not have an International Carriers Bond, they need
to contact a surety company from a list of Treasury approved surety
companies that are listed at fms.treas website. Information on the bond requires that foreign entities have a CBP
assigned number. Request for CBP Assigned numbers must be made on
CBP 5106, "Importer ID Input record", the form can be found the CBP
web site cbp website. Completed forms
should be sent the Entry Branch of the local port for input into ACS. Upon
receipt of a completed CBP 5106, CBP will assign an "Importer Number" to
a foreign-based entity. This CBP 5106 can be completed by the foreign entity
and submitted to CBP. A copy of the form, with the CBP-assigned
number indicated in block 2D, will be returned to the applicant.
This CBP-assigned number will be the identifying number for the
foreign entity on the bond application.
(7/1/04): USCG ISSC ANNOUNCEMENT: (source: USCG) Any vessel that is required to have a vessel security plan approved by the USCG or an international ship security certificate under ISPS/MTSA that does
not report that information as required by 33 CFR part 160 will be denied entry to U.S. waters until that information is provided to the National Vessel Movement Center as part of the advance notice of arrival starting 01 July 2004. For vessel's with an arrival date of 01 July 2004 or
later the following information is required with the advance notice of arrival.
(UPDATE 7/6/04): Full enforcement of automated manifest system: (source: USGLSA) The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Press Release stating that, effective July 6, 2004 (today), the agency will begin full enforcement of the automated manifest system (AMS). On March 4, inbound vessels
were required to transmit electronically to CBP their cargo manifests. Until now, vessels submitting their manifests by other means were provided with letters of warning, but were otherwise allowed to proceed with offloading. Now, offloading will not be allowed until the manifest has
been presented via the AMS. There are no exceptions or waivers.
(UPDATE 9/15/04): Importation of Wood Packaging Material: (source: APHIS USDA)
Final rule
We are amending the regulations for the importation of
unmanufactured wood articles to adopt an international standard
entitled ``Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in
International Trade'' that was approved by the Interim Commission on
Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant Protection Convention
on March 15, 2002. The standard calls for wood packaging material to be
either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide, in accordance
with the Guidelines, and marked with an approved international mark
certifying treatment. This change will affect all persons using wood
packaging material in connection with importing goods into the United
States.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 16, 2005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Aley, Senior Import
Specialist, Phytosanitary Issues Management Team, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-5057.
(3/1/05): USCG-CBP MOA re detention of certain high-risk crewmembers (source: USGLSA)
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apparently have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and developed standard operating procedures regarding detention of certain high-risk crewmembers. When the CBP determines that a foreign crewmember is to be considered high risk, the Coast Guard assists in ensuring that the master of the vessel has provided effective security measures to keep the crewmember from gaining illegal entry into the United States. Generally, this entails hiring a security service to provide a visible deterrent to unauthorized departures from the vessel. Needless to say, expenses related to hiring the security service are borne by the vessel. Operating procedures under the MOA may vary from port to port.
(3/21/05): eNOA/D Transmission System and Process: (source: CBP)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), has merged the CBP Vessel APIS data reporting and data elements with the requirements of the USCG Notice of Arrival (NOA) process. These new processes and system are called the Electronic Notice of Arrival and Departure (eNOA/D). The CBP APIS system has been upgraded accordingly with these enhancements and can now receive and process any form of a USCG eNOA/D vessel transmission through this "single transmission window."
eNOA/D allows commercial vessels to meet USCG NOA and CBP APIS vessel reporting requirements as outlined in 33CFR160 and the CBP final APIS regulations, which should be published in the Federal Register and Implemented by April 2005. All required commercial vessel owners, carriers, operators, and/or NOA/APIS transmitters should direct questions concerning the eNOA/D transmission processes and file formatting to the USCG National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC).
APIS info: Legislation requires all commercial air and sea carriers operating inbound and outbound to electronically transmit APIS data on all passengers and crewmembers to CBP. For sea carriers, the proposed rule by Immigration, dated January 3, 2003, states that a vessel on a voyage of: (1) 96 hours or more must submit the information required in the crewmember and passenger manifests at least 96 hours before entering the port or place of destination; (2) less than 96 hours but not less than 24 hours must submit the crewmember and passenger manifests not less than 24 hours before entering the port or place of destination; or (3) less than 24 hours must submit the crewmember and passenger manifests prior to departing the port or place of departure.
(UPDATE 6/6/05): APIS Final Rule (source: CBP) Customs & Border Protection has issued the APIS (Automated Passenger Information System) Final Rule. Effective Date June 6, 2005.
(UPDATE 9/12/05): USDA ENFORCES NEW WOOD PACKAGING IMPORT REQUIREMENTS
(source: USDA) The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced that it will enforce new requirements for wood packaging material (e.g., wooden pallets, boxes and crates) imported into the United States from other countries. These regulations were published in the Sept. 15, 2004, Federal Register and are effective Sept. 16, 2005.
The new requirements specify that wood packaging material be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and marked with an approved international logo, certifying that the wood packaging material has been appropriately treated. Wood packaging material imported without the international logo after Sept. 16 will be subject to re-exportation. Treatment or destruction of the noncompliant wood packaging material will not be permitted. click here
(UPDATE 10/4/05): CBP APIS informed compliance period ends. (source: CBP) PHASE ONE, will begin on October 4, 2005 and will require that commercial carriers transmit an APIS manifest to CBP for each arrival in to or departure from the U.S. Failure by the master of a vessel to electronically transmit an APIS manifest using the eNOA/D internet portal will result in penalty action against the master in care of the carrier. During this phase, sea APIS manifests that are correctly transmitted will not be considered for penalty action for missing or insufficient data or sufficiency errors.
The master of the vessel, in care of the carrier, is responsible for the transmission of the APIS manifest. If necessary, Port Directors may work with the ship’s agent to properly identify the correct carrier bond information. PHASE TWO will begin on October 31, 2005. During this phase, sea APIS manifests that are correctly transmitted will be considered for penalty action for missing or insufficient data or sufficiency errors.
(2/25/07): STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (source: MIDEQ) In compliance with the provisions of Michigan Act 451, Public Acts of 1994, as amended (the "Michigan Act"), Parts 31 and 41, and Michigan Executive Orders 1991-31,
1995-4 and 1995-18, ballast water is authorized to be discharged from oceangoing vessels specified in individual certificates of coverage (COC) in accordance with
discharge limitations, monitoring requirements and other conditions set forth in this general permit (the “permit”). For further info plse see
Michigan DEQ Ballast Water Control
(2/25/07): Transportation WorkerIdentification Credential Program (source: TSA) The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program is a Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Coast Guard initiative. The TWIC program provides a tamper-resistant biometric credential to maritime workers requiring unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities, outer continental shelf facilities, and vessels regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act, or MTSA, and all U.S. Coast Guard credentialed merchant mariners.
For further info pls see TWICs FAQ
(3/11/08): SEAWAY NOTICE NO. 6 – 2008 96-Hour Pre-Entry Notification Required from Foreign Flagged Vessels (source SLSDC)
All foreign flagged vessels intending to transit the Seaway must submit a complete Notice of Arrival (NOA) 96 hours prior to entering the Seaway at Call In Point 2 (CIP 2). The NOA must be provided electronically following the USCG National Vessel Movement Center’s (NVMC) procedures and using either a website (http://www.nvmc.uscg.gov), eXtensible Markup Language format (XML schema), or InfoPath application.
To complete the NOA correctly for the Seaway, CIP2 shall be selected as the Arrival Port, Foreign to Saint Lawrence Seaway shall be selected as the Voyage Type, and Saint Lawrence Seaway – Transit shall be selected as the Arrival State, City and Receiving Facility.
As a reminder, if calling on a U.S. port, an additional NOA must be submitted to the NVMC in accordance with 33 CFR 160, subpart C.
Greg's Lighthouse Page
The Great Lakes Towing Company
The J.W. Westcott Company
Expeditors International
Chautauqua Institution
Carl Priesmeyer & Company
Port of Cleveland Vessel Arrivals
Lakes Pilots Association
ONLINE PHOTO GALLERY
MV Stellanova discharging project cargo at Cleveland, Ohio
MV Ira discharging at Ashtabula, Ohio.
Tom Gierszal, Magdalena Mackus from Polsteam USA, Inc. and Greg Gierszal onboard
Polish Steamship Company's newbuild MV Isa at Cleveland.
Starboard side MV Isadora at Cleveland, Ohio.
Go Back to Main Page