BDP approved for U.S. Customs Automated Manifest System

BDP International’s (BDP) ocean transportation (NVOCC) subsidiary, BDP Transport, has been recognized by the U.S. Customs Service as a full participant in its Sea Automated Manifest System (AMS), also known as the 24-hour rule.

BDP’s web-based business process and IT infrastructure platform, Xpedion, has been enhanced for conformance with AMS through integration with the Import2000 Service of technology-partner Flagship Customs Services, Inc. (FCS) of Silver Spring, Maryland (www.tradegate2000.com).

Through the FCS Import2000 interface and BDP Xpedion platform, BDP Transport has expanded its channels of communication with Customs by providing expedited, complete import manifest documentation (at least 24 hours before vessel loading at foreign ports), including such information as cargo weight and piece count, scheduled U.S. date of arrival, container and container seal numbers, and complete names and addresses for shipper and consignee, all in a secure data environment.

All BDP offices and approved BDP Global Network partners that have been authorized to transact ocean transportation on BDP Transport are also certified to use the BDP Transport-FCS Import2000 application.

“The 24-hour rule is one of the new realities of conducting business with the US, to assure the uninterrupted flow of commerce in our changed world. Those who respond by half-measures to these initiatives would be well-served to seek out the hard-cost benefits of collaboration that extend far beyond the risk for financial penalties and transportation disruptions,”said Richard J. Bolte, Jr., president of BDP International.

Under AMS, effective Feb. 2, 2003, all U.S.-bound vessels must provide detailed import manifests 24 hours prior to loading from foreign ports, or risk significant delays and penalties. The regulation reflects increased security concerns following terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and an accelerated drive toward paperless customs documentation.

BDP provides a range of services that includes ocean, air and ground transportation; export freight forwarding; import customs brokerage; regulatory compliance consultation and education/training; international lead logistics, global chemical logistics, logistics process analysis and design; project logistics; warehousing/consolidation/distribution; and on-line shipment tracking, transaction, corrective action and data warehouse systems.