WTS agengies announces ACI, AMS automated reporting service

WTS Agencies has announced a solution for all bulk, break bulk, and tramp carriers as well as for Canadian shipping companies and agents to comply with Advanced Commercial Interface (ACI) reporting requirements and U.S. Customs’ Automated Manifest System (AMS).

WTS Agencies’ existing AMS product has been used by ocean carriers, NVOCC’s, and shipping agents in the United States since November of 2002 when it became necessary to submit cargo manifests at least 24-hours prior to cargo loading at the overseas port. The WTS automated service now allows bulk and tramp carriers to report the information required by the new regulations electronically to Bureau of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Effective April 2, information related to bulk and breakbulk vessels, including cargo manifests, port of arrival/departure, names of shippers/consignees, etc. must be reported to CBP and the WTS solution allows for easy compliance.

Canadian shipping agents, on the other hand, must submit their ACI data as required by the Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA). WTS Agencies’ solution combines backend integration of the shipper’s databases with direct access via the web for foreign agents, which means no significant systems changes are required to implement the new ACI/AMS requirements, says the company.

"We are offering Canadian carriers and shippers the same product with a slightly different Custom’s interface. In other words, customers in Canada input their information and it goes through ACI and those in the U.S. go through AMS it is seamless to our users. Our interface is very flexible, so we can add transportation groups to our system to help them comply with Custom’s requirements like we are doing now for the bulk and tramp carriers," said Kurt W. Werth, president and CEO of WTS Agencies.

"By using either our system or our service center, everyone from ocean, bulk, and tramp carriers to NVOCC’s to Canadian shipping agents can send import information directly to Customs, as well as to their customers without having to re-enter it into another system. They then receive their confirmation numbers, messages or rejections from Customs through WTS or their own operating systems, so they don’t have to switch from system to system," said Werth.