CN - Container Documentation
20 September 2004
CN - Container Documentation
The following message is from the International Marketing Division at CN.
For a number of years, CN has devoted significant resources in developing processes that will assist our Customers moving traffic into and out of the United States. CN has invested heavily in technology and involved a large number of people assets to develop new tools that will promote the smooth movement of International Container Business between Canada and the U.S..
In addition, CN has worked very closely with U.S. Customs to foster a partnership that will assist in the movement of Transborder traffic with minimum delay. It has been recognized by Customs that CN makes every attempt to comply with all Transborder requirements. To accomplish this however, CN has had to do a number of things, which includes screening of all destined U.S. Cargo prior to rail loading. This process is not failsafe however, and when loading issues are discovered this generally means the
setting out of suspect traffic, which means delays to other Customers business, impacts overall train service, and ultimately impacts financially everyone involved in the Logistics chain.
A number of processes have been developed with the Steamship Lines and Ocean Terminals to identify problems in advance, and while better, is far from perfect. There is still a significant number of containers being loaded that should not be, and most of this can be traced to breakdowns in agreed to processes. As well, there has not been consistency in the approach in different parts of the Country.
A standard approach is required, which will allow consistency between our Billing Group, our Customers, and all Ocean Terminals we jointly work with. The following will serve as requirements for all Import Containers being handled by CN at all Ocean Terminals served by CN.
1. Customers will provide a list of all containers that will be offered to CN for rail movement. This is a basic list which we understand should be available within 24hours of departure from last Port Overseas. CN requires that this listing of containers be provided to CN no later than 72 hours in advance of vessel. This list will be compared to Billing that is provided, which will allow CN to determine what billing may not have been received prior to vessel arrival. If this rail Distribution list is not received 72 hours in advance, CN will advise the Ocean Terminal to ground the any discharge from that vessel that has not been confirmed. This process change will take place on September 27, 2004.
2. Customers should send billing to CN 72 hours in advance of vessel, especially containers which will be moved transborder. The purpose of 72 hours is to allow time for all potential documentation issues to be identified and resolved. CN ultimately has no control of what U.S. Customs may identify as a problem description, or the timing of that identification. If billing is not received well in advance, there is a risk that an automatic hold will be placed on container when the bill is received. Today, there is a significant numbers of Transborder bills being received by CN less than 24hrs prior to vessel arrival.
3. CN will continue to issue "DO NOT LOAD" messages to Ocean Terminals and Customers impacted.
4. Effective September 27th, CN will issue release instructions on behalf of Customers at the Port of Montreal , for all containers that were placed on documentation hold by CN, and subsequently released. Messages have already been sent to Ocean Terminals advising of this upcoming change. The Port of Halifax has also been advised, but at this time the process of Customer release will continue at this location.
5. Customers will provide billing in advance for Containers being tendered to rail, for which CN has not received prior notice. There are many instances of piers receiving load instructions for containers with
destination changes, or other types of diversions. CN will automatically place holds on all these late move requests until billing has been app