Jan 8, 2008: Vol VII  Issue 1

Latest shipping bulletins here!

TSA FLoating Bunker Fee TSA members for the trans-pacific trade have implemented an Emergency Bunder Fuel Surcharge. According to TSA, the surcharge is necessary for the carriers due to escalating high fuel prices and a floating bunder clause may be a standard contract clause for the 2008~2009 service contracts. Clean Air Program Terminal FEE *Effective June 1, 2008 - westcoast Long Beach and Los Angeles Port will implement a fee of $35 per TEU to raise the necessary funds for Clean Air Act Program. ILWU Contract Renewal The 2002 ILWU and PMA contract will expire this June 2008. Talks are underway in an effort to have a firm contract in place prior to the expirartion date so to avoid a similiar reoccurrence of the 10 day shutdown of the ports. 10 + 2 Proposal U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to start implementing their 10+2 proposal in September 2007, forcing importers and customs brokers to submit additional information for enhanced security screenings. Commissioner Ralph Basham revealed his plan at CBP’s annual Trade Symposium December 13-15 in Washington, D.C. The 10+2 proposal is named for the number of points that must be transmitted to CBP at least 24 hours before goods are loaded on an ocean vessel bound for the U.S. The data collected will be checked for inconsistencies, assisting to indicate which containers may be linked with terrorists or criminals. Ten data elements were selected because of their significance and availability in the logistics process: 1. Manufacturer name and address 2. Seller name and address 3. Container stuffing location 4. Consolidator name and address 5. Buyer name and address 6. Ship to name and address 7. Importer of record number 8. Consignee number 9. Country of origin of the goods 10. Commodity Harmonized Tariff Schedule number (six digit) In addition to the ten data elements, CBP will require ocean carriers to provide two additional data sets to complete the security filing: the vessel stow plan and container status messages. CBP has not decided how the data elements will be communicated and who will be responsible for the communication. CBP is closely coordinating its efforts with the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) to work out the data’s definitions and the most efficient way to execute the next step in advance manifest reporting. The COAC has been urged to complete their review in time for a meeting in February 2007. A Notice of Proposed Rule Making will then be published in the Federal Register. Basham said the end of summer is CBP’s target date for implementing the new security program, which has many importers concerned about their ability to gather data they don’t normally collect and the need to reprogram their computer systems. Smaller companies are encouraged to track down information in countries where they don’t have a presence. Importers without access to all the required information may be initially allowed to submit a smaller version of the ten data elements.