ICS changes released — and welcomed by cargo industry

Friday, 09 February 2007

MAYBE Australian Customs thought that love would be in the air on Valentine’s Day, easing the way for the first phase of implementing changes to the ICS which modify and improve the reporting process associated with part-shipped air cargo.

Customs explained that the first phase impacted three areas of ICS functionality: Under-bond movements of part-shipped consignments, out-turning of part-shipped consignments and application of Customs screening periods for part-shipped consignments.

The move was well received by the industry. 

“This is a welcome outcome and should remove the need for the ‘workarounds’ put in place over 12 months ago,” said the AFIF in a note to members.

“We hope this Phase 1 release and the subsequent phase will resolve this issue once and for all.”

Customs explained that the Phase 1 changes would automate the creation of under-bond movement requests (UBMR) for subsequent part-shipped air cargo consignments from a CTO to a licensed Customs premises, based on the UBMR for the first report of the MAWB.

“UBMRs will be automatically generated for any subsequent part-shipments based on the initial MAWB and UBMR where the MAWB is re-reported within 30 days,” explained Customs.  “This will result in the need for only one UBMR to be reported for a part-shipped air consignment being moved from the CTO to the first depot for deconsolidation.”

The changes would also eliminate the need to out-turn an HAWB as zero for the ICS to generate the automated report of the HAWB on subsequent parts, said Customs, as well as applying a minimal screening period to any ICS-generated copy of an HAWB that has been part-shipped and enabling the HAWB status to be sent to users for subsequent parts of the part-shipped consignment that was initially zero landed by the CTO.

The time taken to receive status messages regarding clearance of part-shipped cargo has also been reduced by the changes, Customs pointed out.

SAUDI Arabia plans to introduce a regulated air cargo agents system from May 26 this year.

In announcing the move, the country’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) urged companies and agents intending to win authorised air cargo agent permits to fulfil certain security and operational conditions and requirements.