Cargo manifest

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Cargo manifest
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Cargo manifest is a form of reporting to the customs administration the goods that are being brought into the country. A document of this type is required from each carrier in all modes of transport- sea, air, truck, rail, but the cargo manifest relates to maritime transport. The information available concerning the tariff classification of the goods and its value is limited at this stage of the process. The goods reported in the cargo manifest are awaiting further processing (entry for consumption, temporary admission for further processing, transit through the country, reexport) after entering the country (M. Keen 2003, s. 75).

The role of Customs Director and Chief Officer

The cargo manifest should be completed together with the Customs Director at the respective seaports where the merchandise is laden. The ship's agents should provide the Chief Officer with the cargo manifest at the last port of discharge or the next loading port. Inspection of this would later provide details on all cargo parcels, inclusive of the tonnages, and the destination of the said cargo. Then it would allow for the construction of the loading plan, preferably before arrival. The Chief Officer should note on the manifest the special items, in particular, hazardous cargoes, heavy- lift cargo, and valuable or special cargoes. The Chief Officer's responsibility is to safely handle, load and discharge the ship's cargo(D. J. House 2014, s. 212.). Moreover, he should develop the following activities to achieve safety and satisfaction of the operations (D. J. House 2014, s. 213):

  • After obtaining the details of tonnages or capacities of cargo from the manifest, he would develop an appropriate loading plan for the ship to give a hold distribution of the cargo and to allow multiple hatch discharge
  • Carrying out the ship stability assessment, taking into account the appropriate tonnages, together with bunker capacity, stores, and ballast arrangements; this would be expected to ensure that the vessel does not infringe loadline regulations while on passage
  • Checking the cargo spaces, lighting, ventilation and general hold conditions on the ship
  • Ensuring that adequate loading facilities are provided and correct stowage is available
  • Administrating the documentation on specific cargoes
  • Recording of damages cargo.

The Chief Officer's duties connected with cargo include the despatch of all the relevant cargo documentation, and cargo plan, to the company agents prior to sailing departure.

Cargo manifest elements

That cargo manifest shall show the destination of the vessel and list the cargo so laden. Besides, for each item of cargo, it should include (C. L. Kincannon 1983, s. 14):

  • The marks and numbers of the packages
  • A number of the articles
  • A description of the contents
  • A description of the quantities
  • A notation that values are as stated on the Shipper's Export Declaration, copies of which are attached to such manifest
  • The bill of lading numbers shown on the declaration covering the item (except that bill of lading numbers are not required on manifests covering cargo destined to Canada or a nonforeign area)
  • The quantities and values of bunker fuel taken abroad at that port for fueling use of the vessel, apart from such quantities as may have been laden on the vessel as cargo

Examples of Cargo manifest

  1. Ocean Freight Cargo Manifest: Ocean freight cargo manifests are documents filed with the customs authorities of a country, detailing the contents of a shipment arriving by sea. These documents are typically required by customs in order to assess the value and nature of the goods being imported. A typical freight cargo manifest will include the following information: the name and address of the shipper, the name and address of the consignee, the vessel name and voyage number, the port of loading, the port of discharge, the container number, the number of containers, the item numbers, the description and quantity of the goods, the gross weight, the invoice number, and the date of shipment.
  2. Air Freight Cargo Manifest: Air freight cargo manifests are similar to ocean freight manifests. They detail the contents of a shipment arriving by air and are typically required by customs in order to assess the value and nature of the goods being imported. A typical air freight cargo manifest will include the following information: the name and address of the shipper, the name and address of the consignee, the flight number, the airport of origin and destination, the item numbers, the description and quantity of the goods, the gross weight, the invoice number, and the date of shipment.

Advantages of Cargo manifest

The cargo manifest presents a number of advantages to its users:

  • It provides an accurate and reliable record of the goods arriving in the country, helping to ensure that customs duties and other taxes due are correctly calculated and paid.
  • It also facilitates the efficient tracking of goods and cargo, thus reducing the risk of loss or theft.
  • It allows customs authorities to quickly identify any shipments which may pose a risk of illegal activities, including smuggling.
  • It helps customs authorities to identify any shipments which may not comply with country regulations, thus allowing for any necessary corrective measures to be taken.
  • The manifest also enables the customs authorities to identify any unclaimed or mis-declared goods, thus helping to avoid any potential issues of taxation or duty evasion.

Limitations of Cargo manifest

  • Cargo manifests have several limitations. Firstly, the information available concerning the tariff classification of the goods and its value is limited. This makes it difficult for the customs administration to accurately assess the goods and value of the goods being imported. Secondly, the manifest does not provide any information on the origin of the goods, which is a key factor in determining the applicable duties. Thirdly, the manifest does not provide any information on the ultimate destination of the goods, which can be important when determining the applicable regulations or when assessing the potential risk of fraud or illegal activities. Finally, the manifest does not provide any information on the safety or security of the goods being imported, which can be a concern for the customs administration.

Other approaches related to Cargo manifest

In addition to reporting goods to the customs administration, cargo manifests can also serve other purposes such as tracking and monitoring the transport of goods.

  • Cargo tracking and monitoring: A cargo manifest can be used to track the movement of goods from their origin to their destination, or to monitor the quantity and quality of goods delivered.
  • Logistical planning: Cargo manifests can be used to inform logistical planning, such as the scheduling of freight transport, the allocation of resources, and the planning of delivery routes.
  • Data analysis: Cargo manifests can be used to analyse the flow of goods and to identify trends, such as the most popular routes and destinations.
  • Risk assessment: By analysing patterns in the data, cargo manifests can be used to assess the risk of goods being misplaced or misdirected.
  • Compliance: Cargo manifests can be used to ensure that goods are being transported in compliance with laws and regulations, such as customs regulations and safety standards.

Cargo manifests are not only used for reporting goods to the customs administration, but can also be used for other purposes, such as cargo tracking and monitoring, logistical planning, data analysis, risk assessment, and compliance.

References

Author: Joanna Milowska

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