CBP Expands Cargo Release Pilot to Include Ocean and Rail

The CBP Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Cargo Release pilot will be expanded to include ocean and rail modes of transportation, the agency said in a notice. The agency will seek new participants in the pilot program, which previously only applied to air transportation, and add three optional data elements for rail and sea entry filers, it said.

The pilot will now "include filing capabilities by importers and customs brokers for cargo transported by ocean and rail," said the agency. CBP also opened the ACE Cargo Release pilot "to all eligible applicants for an indefinite period," it said. "CBP will endeavor to accept all new eligible applicants on a first come first served basis; however, if the volume of eligible applicants exceeds CBP’s administrative capabilities, CBP will reserve the right to select eligible participants in order to achieve a diverse pool in accordance with the selection standards." The first phase of the pilot was announced at the end of 2011 and was at the time expected to last for two years (see 11110918). CBP said it now expects the pilot to run until Nov. 1, 2015.

CBP also added three new optional data elements for rail and ocean filers, it said. The new data elements are:

• Ship to party name and address.
• Consolidator name and address.
• Container stuffing location.

The pilot previously requires participants to file at least 12 data elements with the option for filing other data elements in lieu of filing CBP Form 3461 data.

(Federal Register 02/03/14)