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Effective March 1, 2012, the current International Organization for Standardization (ISO) mechanical seal standard (ISO/PAS 17712) will be replaced with a new ISO standard--ISO 17712:2010. C-TPAT understands that seals are costly, and companies are not expected to discard seals currently in stock. However, after companies have exhausted their current stock of high security seals, we recommend that they purchase seals which are compliant with the new ISO 17712:2010 standard.
The new standard compliance requirements:
• Testing to determine a seal’s classification for physical strength (as a barrier of entry).
• Process auditing of the manufacturer’s security-related business practices.
• Testing (pass/fail) of a seals ability to indicate evidence of tampering.
• A new 18mm minimum width diameter for bolt seals.
Benefits of the new seal standards include:
• Reduced possibility of cargo theft or tampering.
• Reduced possibility of unauthorized material being inserted into containers or other instruments of international traffic (IIT).
• Reducing shipping delays that result when seals are missing or broken.
• When inspecting seals for signs of tampering, tamper-evident seals should allow personnel, with the appropriate training, to detect compromised seals easier.
When C-TPAT companies transition to the new ISO 17712:2010 compliant seals, they should request documentation (lab reports) to confirm that the purchased seals comply with the new standard.
For more information, visit the World Customs Organization (WCO) website at http://www.wcoomd.orgor contact the C-TPAT program at http://www.industry.partnership@dhs.gov
Third Generation of the ISO 17712:
ISO 17712 (2010) was first published in September 2010 and included an 18-month transition period (to March 2012) to deal with technical issues. The new standard is the third generation of 17712. The first was a Publically Available Specification (PAS) published in 2003 and the second was a revision to PAS 17712 published in 2006. Each revision builds on previous requirements.
Atlantic Container Line announces the start of a new, weekly RORO service from the United States and Canada to Russia and Finland. It will be the fastest and most frequent service available in the market.
The service will begin in February 2012, using ACL’s transatlantic vessels and Finnlines’ ice-class Baltic vessels. Both companies are owned by the Grimaldi Group. ACL has fixed day-of-the-week calls at New York-Tuesdays, Baltimore-Thursdays, Norfolk-Fridays and Halifax-Mondays. The ACL vessels arrive each Thursday at Antwerp (PSA Terminal, Quay 869). The Finnlines vessels call at ACL’s terminal every Saturday and sail directly to Helsinki, Kotka and St. Petersburg. Cargo moves under a single ACL through bill of lading all the way through to St. Petersburg, Kotka and Helsinki.
Andrew J. Abbott, ACL’s President & CEO: “Our customers have been asking us for a better Baltic Sea connection for quite some time. This new service gives ACL another niche where we can do something better than anybody else. Finnlines is our sister company so we will have complete control of the cargo all the way to its Baltic destination. Our transit times, frequency, reliability and customer service are the best available.”
ACL offers through bills of lading for vehicles, projects and other uncontainerized cargo worldwide. The ACL RORO staff in North America has an average of 20 years of experience in handling oversized cargo. Finnlines has been operating in the Baltic since 1947 and has extensive experience working in Russia and Finland. All processing and tracking of shipments are performed via ACL’s computer system. Deliveries are coordinated through the Finnlines offices, who are ACL’s agents.
The ACL G-3 RORO/Containerships have an extensive fleet of RORO equipment: mafi trailers and special project trailers. All vehicles, trailers and oversized cargo are parked securely in underdeck garages, allowing the ultimate protection for cargo with large dimensions. Many of the Finnlines vessels were built in 2011, and more will be launched this year.
February 3, 2012 - With effect April 1, 2012, ACL will no longer supply chassis for merchant haulage moves originating from NYC/NJ, BWI, and HOU. Chassis will now be maintained and controlled by independent operators in these geographic areas, rather than the Line.
Merchant haulers that elect to utilize the pool chassis as opposed to their own chassis equipment must have a signed interchange agreement with each operator they choose to do business with.
ACL has established EDI connections with specific operators for the transmission of the hauler’s information and ACL’s booking information. Merchant haulers may choose to utilize any of the local operators and are not limited to the EDI vendors. ACL has established EDI connections with the following providers:
NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY:
Global Terminal & New York Container Terminal:
Flexi-Van Leasing: (908) 276-8000
http://www.flexi-van.com
APM Terminal:
Direct Chassis Link: (704) 571-2618
http://www.chassislink.com
*Metro pool chassis are also available directly from Trac Leasing at all three terminals; however, EDI communications with ACL are not available.
BALTIMORE:
Ports America – Dundalk Marine Terminal
Direct Chassis Link: (704) 571-2618
http://www.chassislink.com
*Flexi-Van and Trac Leasing also maintain local operations at Baltimore; however, EDI communications with ACL are not available.
HOUSTON:
Integrated Marine Service and Barbours Cut Terminal
Trac Leasing: (877) 987-2226
http://www.tracconnect.com
*Flexi-Van and Direct Chassis Link also maintain local operations at Houston; however, EDI communications with ACL are not available.
Westfield, NJ – Atlantic Container Line, a Grimaldi Group company, was recognized as a top supplier
by American Honda Motor Co. President & CEO Tetsuo Iwamura presented the company’s Premier Partner
Award to ACL for excellence in International Transportation between North America and Europe. ACL was
one of 15 award recipients selected from 45 suppliers nominated by American Honda associates nationwide.
William Kearns, Executive VP for ACL, stated "It's an honor and a distinct privilege for ACL to receive
this prestigious award from American Honda. We are very fortunate to have earned their trust and support
the past 20 years in providing transportation services for their transatlantic shipments."
The Premier Partner Awards were established in 1998 to recognize suppliers who embrace American Honda’s
philosophy of exceeding customer expectations. This year’s award winners represent excellence in a
variety of industries including logistics, printing, marketing, packaging and much more.
“Today we acknowledge an outstanding group of suppliers who embody Honda’s philosophy of delivering the
highest possible value to our customers through quality products and customer service,” said Gary Kessler,
American Honda’s senior vice president of Human Resources, Administration and Corporate Affairs. “The
support of these suppliers is critical to the success of American Honda and we are honored to recognize
them for their exceptional contributions.”
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ( FMCSA ) has implemented provisions that will effect the way equipment providers and motor carriers conduct business. These provisions will allow the motor carriers to report chassis deficiencies as per prescribed guidelines to the Intermodal Equipment Provider as well as other third parties electronically prior to their return of the chassis to the IEP.
The Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association ( OCEMA ) has created a common solution to create the driver vehicle inspection reports ( DVIR's ) from specific information sent to them electronically for the account of the IEP. ACL, as well as most other carriers, has registered with
(http://www.chassis.com)
who will forward the data to the appropriate third party vendor. Please click on the link for instruction on how to sign up for this service so that you may be in compliance with the new regulations.
The new regulations will take effect on June 30, 2010.
U.S.
Customs and Border Protection issues interim rule on 10+2. Please click for
more information: Security
Filing "10+2".
There has been a major change with the U.S. Customer Export Regulations and the implementation of the AES Rule. Please click for the the key information:
All containers, including Shipper Owned or Leased containers moving on an Atlantic Container Line Bill of Lading, whether in port to port or through intermodal service, must have a high security seal affixed by the cargo interest immediately upon completion of stuffing. This seal must meet or exceed the current PAS ISO 17712 standards for high security seals.
For several years, ACL's policy has been to provide a high security seal for each container that was booked. However, with the recently strengthened "C-TPAT Importer Security Criteria" from US Customs and Border Protection, many of our customers have indicated that they want to use their own seals in order to ensure complete control over the process.
Because of the changing criteria for seal distribution and control, ACL will no longer be supplying seals to its customers as of December 1, 2005. Please find listed below some contact information for seal manufacturers:
Megafortis www.megafortis.com
Brooks Seals www.brookseals.com
Universeal www.universeal.co.uk
For more information about the new C-TPAT criteria, please visit www.cbp.gov
Effective June 15, 2005
DOCUMENTATION FOR U.S. EXPORT CARGOES
(a) Deadline for Submission of Data for U.S. Export Cargoes. To avoid the imposition of penalties on Carrier by U.S. authorities, to minimize the cost of document preparation, to avoid disruption to Carrier's stevedoring and vessel loading operations, and to preserve schedule integrity, the shipper named on the bill of lading or its agent ("Shipper") must provide the following information to Carrier at least 24 hours prior to ship's loading at each applicable US Port of Loading:
(i) Name and address of Shipper
(ii) Name and address of consignee
(iii) Destination of cargo
(iv) Port of discharge of cargo
(v) Description of cargo, including quantity and weight
(vi) AES Export Citation (External Transaction Number of Exemption Statement)
(b) Consequences of Failure to Provide Data.
The Carrier may refuse to load the cargo for which data described in paragraph (a) has not been timely provided. In the event such cargo is not loaded, then any and all costs incurred by Carrier with respect to cargo in its possession including but not limited to inspection, storage, equipment per diem, port demurrage and/or re-delivery costs, shall be the joint and several responsibility of Shipper, the consignee named on the bill of lading and any other person(s) with an interest in such cargo (collectively, "Merchant"). Carrier shall have a lien on cargo in its possession for amounts due hereunder and may hold cargo until such amounts (and any other unpaid freights or charges) are paid or sell such cargo after a reasonable period. In the event Carrier is forced to take legal action to collect amounts due hereunder, Carrier shall be entitled to recover all costs (including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with such legal action.
(c) Government Requirements.
Nothing in this rule shall relieve Shipper of its obligation to comply with otherwise applicable advance notice requirements or reduce the period of such other advance notice requirements including, but not limited to: (i) the 72-hour advance notice requirement for exports of used vehicles; (ii) the advance notice requirements applicable to cargo for which an export license is required; and (iii) advance notice requirements established by government agencies.
(d) Indemnification of Carrier.
If Carrier is assessed a penalty or fine with respect to cargo for which it received timely information because the information was false, inaccurate or incomplete, then Merchant shall be jointly and severally liable to indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse Carrier (and by booking a shipment with Carrier do thereby agree to indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse Carrier) for any such penalty or fine and any and all costs, liabilities, damages, losses and cargo claims incurred by the Carrier as a result of such false, inaccurate or incomplete information. Carrier shall have a lien on cargo in its possession for amounts due hereunder and may hold cargo until such amounts (and any other unpaid freights or charges) are paid or sell such cargo after a reasonable period. In the event Carrier is forced to take legal action to collect amounts due hereunder, or to defend any action resulting from actions or events covered by this indemnification, Carrier shall be entitled to recover all costs (including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with such legal action. For purposes of this paragraph, the indemnification provided to Carrier shall also extend to its agents, affiliates, contractors, employees, vessel- sharing partners, slot charterers, vessel owners, and insurers.
Atlantic Container Line has received their ISO quality certification for its U.S. Customer Service Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This recognizes ACL's compliance with the terms of the ISO Registration BS EN ISO 9001:2000
ACL is also ISO 9001 registered in our principal European office locations in the UK, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Finland and Switzerland.
ACL is committed to the highest vessel and service standards, complying with all relevant registrations. The line was among the very first to receive ISM safety and environmental certification, when compliance was not yet a requirement. Most recently, the ACL vessels have received ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Certification. The vessels are also in compliance with the mandatory International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS).
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