Risk-based physical boarding of vessels at designated minor...

Risk-based physical boarding of vessels at designated minor ports will replace routine boarding, using advance assessment of compliance history, voyage and cargo data, itinerary, last port of call, declarations, and security indicators. Entry Inward and Vessel Sail-out Clearance must be granted promptly after required manifests, documents and checks are completed, and cannot be withheld solely because boarding has not occurred; cargo operations should not be unnecessarily delayed. Port stakeholders must provide advance vessel schedules and declarations. Masters and shipping agents remain responsible for accurate declarations, safeguarding onboard goods and reporting material changes. Customs officers retain statutory powers to board, examine or inspect vessels where intelligence, suspected non-compliance, or other risk indicators warrant it.