Last updated: December 9th, 2022 4:20 PM

Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations

In 2018, the Government of India (GoI) introduced Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations, which was implemented in 2019. The regulations were implemented to regulate and streamline the vessels carrying import and export goods. The regulation process focuses on the following:

• Process of ships carrying imported goods into India,
• Process of containers carrying goods from India to other countries
• Process of vessels that are engaged in the coastal carriage
• Procedures and timing of delivering
• Filing the manifests of arrival and departure

Delivery of an Arrival Manifest

All sea carriers authorized, as per the norms, should provide the arrival manifest while shipping export and imported goods. The concerned officer should produce the arrival manifest. When the arrival manifest cannot be produced directly, the company shall send it electronically. If the company submits a duplicate of the arrival manifest, it should be validated by the Commissioner of Customs. However, vessels that carry coastal goods need not produce any arrival manifest.

The following are the components of the arrival manifest:

• Application for entry inwards in Form-II (except in case of the vessel carrying  coastal goods)
• Declaration in Form-III
• List of the vessel's stores in Form- IV
• List of the private property owned by the Master and crew in Form- V
• Form-VIA: Details of the vessel arriving at an Indian port from a Foreign port in or for a ship arriving at an Indian Port from another Indian Port directly or through a designated foreign route in
• Form-VIB: Details of the vessel arriving from a different Indian port directly or through a foreign route
• Any other declaration required under the provisions of the Customs Act
• Form-VIA and Form-VIB: Requirement to update the information on notwithstanding anything contained as per sub-regulation (3)

Delivery of a Departure Manifest

All sea carriers, authorized as per the norms, should provide the departure manifest before the vessel departs from the port. The departure manifest can be provided manually or electronically. The following are the components of the arrival manifest:

• Form-III: A general declaration
• Form-IV: List of vessel's stores
• Form-V: List of the private property owned by the Master and crew
• Form-VIIA: Required for ships departing from an Indian port to a Foreign port or
• Form-VIIB: Required for ships passing from Indian Port to another Indian port directly or through a foreign route
• Any other declaration required under the provisions of the Customs Act

Declaration in Respect of Specific Cargo

The vessel carrying the import and export of the following goods should be described in Form-XII.

• Arms
• Ammunition
• Explosives
• Narcotics and Psychotropic substances
• Gold
• Silver

A nil certificate will be delivered if the vessel does not carry the goods mentioned above.

Transshipment of Imported Goods or Export Goods

• All authorised carriers should file the departure manifest before a train or truck departure. The carriers should also file the arrival manifest upon arrival of the train or truck in Form- VIII. The form shall be used for the transshipment of imported or export goods between ports, Inland Container Depot, Container Freight Station, Special Economic Zone (SEZ), foreign post offices, and vice versa.
• Form-VIIIA shall be used to file the transshipment or transit of imported goods between a port and Land Customs station and vice versa.

Conditions for Transhipment or Transit through a designated foreign route

The following are the conditions to be followed for transshipment

• The goods shall be mentioned in the arrival manifest or departure manifest for transshipment to any customs station
• The transshipment shall be applicable for a vessel, train, or truck or by a combination of two or more of the same modes of transport
• The bond executed by the carrier in Form-IX A, Form-IX B, Form-IX C, or Form-IX D shall be applicable with or without the guarantee from the bank or surety. However, it is valid only if the transhipment of goods is directly between two seaports
• The officer assigned by the Commissioner of customs will seal the import and export goods along with the container, bonded truck, covered truck, or wagon meant for transshipment by land route. The seal shall be released only after the permission of the officer assigned by the Commissioner of customs.
• The reasons shall be documented in writing if the officer assigned by the Commissioner of customs allows the goods without the seal. If the coastal goods are shipped through a foreign route, the authorised carrier should furnish all the details in Form-X A, Form-X B, Form-X C, and FormX D.

Penalty for the Authorised Carrier

Any authorised carriers that do not follow the regulations shall be liable to pay a fine of Rs.50,000. Scroll down to learn more about the regulations and forms

Import Export Code

The Import Export Code is a primary document necessary for commencing Import-export activities. The IE code is to be obtained for exporting or importing goods or services.IEC has numerous benefits for the growth of the business. Indeed, you cannot ignore the necessity of IE code registration, as it is mandatory. You can apply for an Import Export code through IndiaFilings and obtain it within 6 to 7 days.