Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding Boarding & Rummaging of Vessels at Haldia/Kolkata Sea Ports, Budge Budge Jetty and designated anchorage points on the Hoogly River under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Customs Zone-Reg. - Customs - 05/2016

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (PREVENTIVE), WEST BENGAL 15/1, Strand Road, Customs House, Kolkata-700001 F.No.: S.43-13/2016 P (SRI) Date: 04/05/2016 PUBLIC NOTICE No. 05/2016 Sub: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding Boarding Rummaging of Vessels at Haldia/Kolkata Sea Ports, Budge Budge Jetty and designated anchorage points on the Hoogly River under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Customs Zone-Reg. Attention of members of the Trade and Industry, especially the Shipping Lines/Shipping Agents is invited to the procedure regarding Boarding and Rummaging of vessels arriving at the ports of Haldia/Kolkata, Budge Budge Jetty and designated anchorage, points on the Hoogly river under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Customs Zone which would be effected from 04/05/2016. Details of the procedure to be followed are as follows : 2) Superintendents posted in Section Offices at Haldia/Kolkata Ports and Budge Budge Jetty are the Superintendent-in-Charge to control the Boarding operations of the vessels berthed at the respective places. Superintendent, Lower Rive Division (LRD), Kolkata is the controlling Superintendent in respect of all other designated anchorage points on the Hoogly River ie. Sandheads, Sagar, Diamond Harbour, etc. Boarding Officers at the designated anchorage points on the Hoogly river is deputed by Posting Superintendent at Custom House, Kolkata. 3) Shipping Line/Shipping Agent shall inform about the arrival of vessel to the Superintendent, Section Office at Haldia/Kolkata Ports or Budge Budge, Jetty at least 4 hours. I advance of the expected time of arrival of the vessel berthing in Haldia/Kolkata Ports; or the Posting Superintendent and Superintendent, LRD at Kolkata at least 48 hours in advance where the anchoring is mid-stream at any of the designated anchorage points on the hoogly river. 4) On receipt of such information, Superintendent, Section Office at Haldia/Kolkata Port or Budge Budge Jetty, or the Posting Superintendent at Kolkata, as the case may be, shall depute a Preventive Officer as Boarding Officer. Superintendent, Section Office at Haldia/Kolkata Port or Budge Budge Jetty or Superintendent, LRD, Kolkata shall also inform the Superintendent Rummaging Discipline (SRD) at Haldia/Kolkata of the arrival of the vessels. 5) The Shipping Agent shall also board the vessel along with the Boarding Officer and the Rummaging Team (SRD) as he is required to assist the Boarding Officer in the discharge of his duties, however, he shall not interfere/cause any inconvenience or hinder the smooth discharge of any statutory boarding or rummaging formalities. 6) The Boarding Officer shall perform all the statutory duties as specified in Section 37 38 of the Customs Act, 1962 read with Para 3 of Chapter 2 of the Customs Manual, 2015 and Para 11 of Chapter 1 of the Customs Preventive Manual (Central), 1987. 7) During the course of rummaging if any prohibited, restricted or undeclared goods are recovered the same shall be detained and/or seized under Panchanama as per Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962 or any other law for the time being in force in the presence of two independent witnesses and the Master of the Vessel. In all such cases the Shipping Agent shall coordinate the rummaging team for effective implementation of the Customs Rules and Regulations. 8) The Shipping Agents all make necessary arrangements as is being done at present for the Boarding Officer and Rummaging Team whenever such vessels arrive or depart after normal office hours in Haldia/ Kolkata Port and Budge Budge Jetty or at the designated anchorage points, viz. in Sandheads, Sagar, Diamond Harbour, etc. (Dr. N K Soren) Commissioner of Customs (Port Preventive)