A summary of recent events and issues from the United States.Los Angeles / Long Beach - Port Access Route Study

The US Coast Guard issued a Notice stating that its Port Access Route Study (PARS) for the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) to the approaches to Los Angeles / Long Beach and in the Santa Barbara Channel have been completed (76 Fed. Reg. 67395).

The US Coast Guard posted the Port Access Route Study (PARS) for the Approaches to Los Angeles / Long Beach and in the Santa Barbara Channel. The PARS recommends, among other things, creating a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) south of the Channel Islands for vessels using the alternate approaches to Los Angeles and Long Beach. It also recommends modifying the Santa Barbara TSS to reduce interaction with whales and ships. Both recommendations are subject to the federal rulemaking process.

For more details:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/FR-2011-11-01/2011-28270CBP - Test Concerning ACE Simplified Entry

The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a notice stating that it plans to conduct a National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test concerning Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) entry capability. The new capability will include functionality intended to simplify the process by allowing participants to submit twelve required and three optional data elements to CBP at any time prior to arrival of the merchandise on the conveyance transporting the cargo to the United States. The initial phase of the test will be open to entries filed in the air transportation mode only. Comment, though, is sought from all potential stakeholders concerning any aspect of the planned test (76 Fed. Reg. 69755).

For more information:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?granuleId=2011-29055&packageId=FR-2011-11-09&acCode=FRNOAA - Olympic Coast NMS

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) promulgated a final rule amending the regulations for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (NMS). The changes come into effect on 1 December 2011 (76 Fed. Reg. 67348).

For more information:

http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/management/fr/76_fr_67348.pdfUSCG - Conditions of Entry: Republic of Congo Removed

The US Coast Guard issued a Port Security Advisory stating that it has determined that the Republic of Congo is now maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures in its ports. Therefore, the conditions of entry previously required of vessels arriving in the United States after having made calls in the Republic of Congo, no longer apply. The Advisory includes an updated list of countries affected by the conditions of entry requirement.

For more information:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-10-14/pdf/2011-26602.pdf

Source of Information:

UK P&I Club

Thomas Miller (Americas)

USA

SanFrancisco.UKClub@thomasmiller.com