Automated Manifest System
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| Automated Manifest System | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Automated Manifest System |
| Type | Information system |
| Launched | 1990s |
| Operator | U.S. Customs and Border Protection |
| Country | United States |
Automated Manifest System
The Automated Manifest System provides electronic manifest reporting for import/export shipments and integrates with customs clearance, port operations, and transportation networks. It interacts with agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, United States Coast Guard, and Department of Transportation while supporting ports like Port of Los Angeles, Port of New York and New Jersey, Port of Long Beach, Port of Houston, and Port of Savannah.
Overview
The system serves as an electronic manifest repository linking carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, and terminals including Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company, CMA CGM, COSCO, and Hapag-Lloyd to regulatory authorities like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Food and Drug Administration. It supports modal operators such as Amtrak, Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern while integrating with global systems including Electronic Data Interchange partners, World Customs Organization, International Maritime Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization, and International Air Transport Association.
History and Development
Development began amid policy initiatives led by administrations interacting with legislative acts such as the Trade Act of 2002, Homeland Security Act of 2002, Customs Modernization Act and initiatives endorsed by agencies including U.S. Customs Service, Treasury Department, and Department of Commerce. Early pilots involved stakeholders like Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, Federal Maritime Commission, National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, and carriers such as Matson Navigation Company. Subsequent modernization projects referenced standards from ANSI X12, UN/EDIFACT, WCO Data Model, and interoperability efforts with projects by European Commission, UK Border Force, Canada Border Services Agency, Australian Border Force, and Japan Customs.
Operations and Process
Carriers and agents submit voyage, bill of lading, and cargo line-item manifests through electronic filing portals used by entities like Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of America, National Association of Customs Brokers, International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, and technology vendors such as SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, IBM, Accenture, and Siemens. The workflow coordinates arrival notifications, cargo holds, and inspections involving United States Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and port authorities at Port of Miami, Port of Seattle, Port of Charleston, and Port of Baltimore. Risk assessment integrates data feeds used by Automated Targeting System, Narcotics Enforcement, Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, and Cargo Screening Program partners.
Data Elements and Standards
Manifests contain identifiers and attributes mapped to standards developed by ANSI X12, UN/EDIFACT, World Customs Organization, International Organization for Standardization, and schema referenced by National Institute of Standards and Technology. Data fields include carrier codes registered with International Maritime Organization, International Air Transport Association designators, vessel names recorded by Lloyd's Register, voyage numbers used by Federal Maritime Commission, Harmonized System codes maintained by World Customs Organization, and international port codes from UN/LOCODE. Parties use business identifiers such as Employer Identification Number, DUNS, and registration entries tied to Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and Importer Security Filing processes.
Security and Privacy Considerations
Security architecture aligns with directives issued by Office of Management and Budget, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security, and best practices from International Organization for Standardization. Threat mitigation references incidents investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Homeland Security Investigations, and coordination with Interpol and Europol. Privacy safeguards intersect with statutes such as Privacy Act of 1974 and guidelines from Office of Personnel Management, with stakeholder reviews conducted by Congressional Research Service and audits by Government Accountability Office.
Regulatory and Legal Framework
Operations are governed by statutory authorities enacted by the United States Congress, interpreted through regulations promulgated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and informed by litigation and decisions from courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and rulings cited by Supreme Court of the United States. International trade obligations reference agreements such as the World Trade Organization provisions, bilateral treaties negotiated by the United States Trade Representative, and customs cooperation frameworks under the World Customs Organization and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
Impact on Trade and Logistics
The system affected supply chains managed by corporations like Walmart, Amazon (company), Target Corporation, Home Depot, and IKEA and logistics providers including DHL, FedEx, United Parcel Service, Kuehne + Nagel, and DB Schenker. Efficiency gains influenced port performance rankings maintained by Drewry, Alphaliner, IHS Markit, S&P Global, and Bloomberg while shaping practices used in initiatives by Supply Chain Management Association, Institute for Supply Management, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, and academic research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, London School of Economics, and National University of Singapore.
Category:Customs administration