[The Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) issued the following statement with regards to vessels diverting from US to Canadian West Coast ports during labour negotiations.]

As negotiation continues between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, the potential exists for some marine vessels from the U.S. West Coast to be diverted to Canadian West Coast Marine ports. The potential labour disruption may impact 29 U.S. West Coast ports, including all the major West Coast container ports-Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Portland, Seattle and Tacoma. It is anticipated that vessel diversions would be to the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, BC.

In the Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) current environment, with Advanced Commercial Information (ACI) processing, clients must ensure that they continue to follow all existing guidance documents such as D-Memorandum and ACI Participants Requirements Documents. The CBSA advises clients that all elements of the Customs Act and its regulations will be enforced. In addition, the CBSA would like to remind clients that all shipments must continue to comply with the regulations of other government departments, where applicable.

Of particular concern to the CBSA are instances where Freight Remaining On Board and/or in-transit cargo reports have not been received for certain containers aboard diverted vessels. Clients are reminded that, even though the diversion has placed them outside of set cargo reporting timeframes, the CBSA still requires all cargo to be reported. If clients fail to report containers, an AMPS penalty will be applied. If reports are received outside of set reporting timeframes, the CBSA will apply a level of flexibility determined case by case. Please note that the local affected port should be contacted directly when clients find themselves in the position of not being able to transmit cargo data prior to arriving at the Canadian marine port.

Commercial ports within the Pacific Region have been advised as to the potential increase in marine cargo as a result potential vessel diversions.

Please direct all questions regarding this memorandum to either:

Anthony Krilow,
Regional Program Officer
Ph#: 604-666-0601
Email: Anthony.Krilow@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca