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Advance Commercial Information - Marine Mode
Features
Data Transmission
- Obtaining a Carrier Code
A valid CBSA carrier code is mandatory in order to fulfill requirements under the ACI program. - Who is Responsible for Data Transmission?
- Transmission Methods
- Changes to Data Elements
- Advance Commercial Information Timeframes
- Advance Commercial Information Marine Client Document
Data Transmission Format
Marine Conveyance, Cargo and Supplementary Cargo information may be transmitted in both ANSI and EDIFACT formats. For further information on ANSI and EDIFACT message standards, please refer to the Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document entitled Advance Commercial Information Marine Client Document.
This section provides information regarding:
- Marine Conveyance Report
- Marine Cargo Report
- Marine Supplementary Cargo Report
- Risk Assessment Notices
Cargo and Supplementary Cargo Reports can be transmitted in any order provided that they meet the timeframe requirements under the Advance Commercial Information program.
ACI Marine Timeframes
The Advance Commercial Information (ACI) program requires marine carriers and freight forwarders to electronically transmit the marine Cargo Report and Supplementary Cargo Report (if applicable) to the CBSA 24 hours before loading the cargo at a foreign port (not including the U.S.). For cargo loaded in the U.S., the Cargo Report and Supplementary Cargo Report (if applicable) must be transited 24 hours before the arrival of the vessel at the first port in Canada.
In addition, marine carriers are required to electronically transmit a Conveyance Report to the CBSA before arrival. The timeframe for the Conveyance Report depends on the type of cargo.
If the voyage is less than 24 hours in duration, the Cargo Report, Conveyance Report and Supplementary Cargo Report (if applicable) must be transmitted before the departure of the vessel from the foreign port (including the U.S.). This requirement allows the CBSA to effectively identify threats to Canada's health, safety, and security prior to the arrival of cargo and conveyance in Canada.
The following chart summarizes the ACI timeframes for transmitting Conveyance, Cargo and Supplementary Cargo Reports:
| Conveyance Report Transmission Timeframes (cargo loaded in a country other than the U.S.) |
|
|---|---|
| Conveyances with containerized cargo | 96 hours before arrival |
| Conveyances with non-exempted break-bulk cargo | 96 hours before arrival |
| Conveyances with exempted break-bulk cargo | 24 hours before arrival |
| Conveyances with bulk cargo | 24 hours before arrival |
| Conveyances with empty marine containers | 96 hours before arrival |
| Conveyances with a combination of goods described above | 96 hours before arrival |
| Conveyance Report Transmission Timeframes (cargo loaded in the U.S.) |
|
| Conveyances with containerized, bulk or break-bulk | 24 hours before arrival |
| Conveyances with empty containers | 4 hours before arrival |
| Cargo and Supplementary Report Transmission Timeframes (cargo loaded in a country other than the U.S.) |
|
| Containerized cargo | 24 hours before loading |
| Non-exempted break-bulk cargo | 24 hours before loading |
| Exempted break-bulk cargo | 24 hours before arrival |
| Bulk cargo | 24 hours before arrival |
| Empty marine containers | 96 hours before arrival |
| Cargo and Supplementary Report Transmission Timeframes (cargo loaded in the U.S.) |
|
| Containerized, bulk or break-bulk | 24 hours before arrival |
| Empty marine containers | 4 hours before arrival |
* If the duration of the voyage is less than the ACI timeframe required, ACI reports must be transmitted before the departure of the vessel to a port in Canada.
