Implementation of ICES module in Container Cell - regarding - Customs - 26/2017

Government of India Office of the Principal Commissioner of Customs (Port) 15/1, Strand Road, Custom House, Kolkata F. No S37(Misc)-06/2016 (Container) F.No. S37(Misc)-01/2016 SOA Dated: 24.05.2017 PUBLIC NOTICE No. 26/2017 Subject: Implementation of ICES module in Container Cell - regarding 1. Attention of all Steamer Agents/Shipping Lines, Importers, Custom House Agents, CFS Operators! Custodians, Terminal Operators (Kolkata Port Trust for Kolkata and Haldia Port), Main Line Operators (MLO) is drawn to the process of submission of landing guarantee for duty free import of containers in terms of Customs Notification No.- 104/94 dated 16.03.94. 2. At present, a Continuity Bond is submitted by the Steamer Agents/Shipping Lines of certain value at the Container Cell. The landing application in proper format is submitted by the Steamer Agents/Shipping Lines after verification of signature at the Appraising General Department and IGM No. verification at the Import Noting Department. The bond amount is debited according to the type of container and the application is signed in triplicate; - original for Container cell, duplicate for section office and triplicate for applicant. The whole process is manual and time consuming. 3. In order to streamline the management and monitoring of import of containers and re- export thereof in ICES, following modifications are detailed below: 4. Container Bond: It has been decided that ICES will incorporate the processing of Container Bond for all imported containers through Kolkata Port/Haldia Port. It may be noted that processing for this Container Bond is a prerequisite for other processing linked to the time of grant of entry inwards i.e., unless this bond is debited, approvals like Transhipment approvals and regularization of prior Bill of Entries will not take place. The following are the salient features of this bond: 4.1. Shipping Lines/Steamer Agents should furnish a continuity bond for all imported containers - which would be in force till they are re-exported. The Containers must be re-exported within a period of 6 months and for further extension permission has to be obtained separately. This bond would be called Container Bond type CB . It will be 3 Continuous bond- that can be used for multiple debits and re-credit. 4.2. Shipping agents are required to register only one Container Bond of large value so that it can be used for multiple debits. The existing Bond Module of ICES will be used for registration and management of the bond. There is provision of enhancing the value of an existing bond through additional credit. 4.3. Rate of bond value for containers is specified on the basis of type of container like 20 , 40 , 45 Plain, Refer and tanker etc. and would be debited. System would maintain a directory of bond rates based on ISO code of the container. The bond rates for various types of containers are given in the following table: Type of Container Bond Rate (in Rupees) 20 Feet plain 70,000/- 40 Feet plain 1,35,000/- 45 Feet plain 1,50,000/- 20 Feet Refer 2,50,000/- 40 Feet Refer 4,00,00/- 20 Feet Tanker 4,50,000/- 40 Feet Tanker 6,00,000/- 5. Processing of bond-debit is implicit in the system and no separate request is required. On grant of Entry Inwards, System will automatically carry out the required processing, which involves finding out valid registered bond, calculation of Bond amount and debiting the same. 6. For loaded containers, this bond will be in addition to the TP (for Transhipment) or TR (for CFS Movement) bond. 7. For empty containers, the information should compulsorily be filed as part of IGM for debiting of bond and approval of movement of empty containers. 8. The Shipping Agents/MLOs are advised to get authorized copy of Container Bond Approval Order from Container cell which will be authorized by the Superintendent of Customs. After getting the authorized copy of Container Bond Approval Order from Container cell, the Shipping Agents/MLOs will approach to Port Terminal for onwards movement of containers from gateway port to CFSs/ICDs/Empty Container Yard. 9. The debited value for a container will be re-credited to the bond once the container is re-exported. Shipping Agents will have to apply for re-credit along with proof of export. The Superintendent (Container Cell) will approve the same on verification of proof of export within approved time limit. 10.If any, difficulties/problems faced in the implementation may be brought to the notice of the Joint Commissioner (system). 11.This Public Notice will come into effect from 01.06.2017. (Dr. N. K. SOREN) Commissioner of Customs (Port)