Procedure to be followed in case conversions / reversions of vessels from Foreign to Coastal and vice versa - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 106/2017

OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (GENERAL), NEW CUSTOM HOUSE, BALLARD ESTATE, MUMBAI 400 001. F. No: ADS/I/88/2017 Date: 18.08.2017 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 106/2017 Sub: Procedure to be followed in case conversions / reversions of vessels from Foreign to Coastal and vice versa 1. Attention of Ship Agents, Exporters, Importers, Custom Brokers and all other stake holders is invited to the fact that representations have been received from Trade and Shipping lines regarding delay occuring in conversion of vessels from Foreign Run to Coastal Run and vice versa. 2. Kind attention is also invited to Standing Orders No. 7347 dated 20.01.1998, 7484 dated 27.10.1999 and 27/2016 dated 02.12.2016 issued by Export Department detailing the procedure to be followed in case conversions / reversions of vessels from Foreign to Coastal and vice versa. The procedure laid down in the said Standing Orders is being followed in this Custom House and in addition, Bill of Entry is required to be filed for the vessel in terms of Board s Circular No. 16/2012-Cus dated 13.06.2012. 3. The matter has been examined and as a measure of trade facilitation, the procedure has been simplified as follows: 4. Procedure of getting permission for conversion of the vessel from Export Department is being done away with. Provisional Conversion shall be granted by the Superintendent / Boarding Office, immediately after boarding the vessel and at the time of granting entry inwards subject to the condition that shipping line gives an undertaking that all the formalities including filing of Bill of Entry, finalization of assessment and payment of duty, will be completed within two working days from the date of provisional conversion. The inventorisation of provisions and bunker shall be completed simultaneously. After completion of assessment and payment of duty, an application shall be made to DC / P (G) for conversion of the vessel and PSO/Admn. shall verify the alerts against the vessel and may issue NOC for final conversion. Then the final conversion shall be granted by Superintendent / Boarding Office. 5. Similarly, for reversion (re-conversion from Coastal Run to Foreign Run), a provisional conversion shall be granted immediately on arrival subject to the undertaking that all formalities will be completed within 2 working days and reversion shall be finalized accordingly. However, in all the cases, the Port Clearance will be issued by Export Department as per the existing procedure. 6. Further, it may be noted that in case, any of the Shipping Agents / CHAs intend to follow the existing procedure, they may continue to do so. 7. As of now, the Boarding Office of Customs is working from Monday to Saturday. However, if required, an officer will be posted on Sunday exclusively for the purpose of facilitating the trade in respect of conversions / reversions. However, this facility shall be made available on intimation by the Trade at least a day in advance. 8. Any difficulties faced in implementation of this Public Notice may be brought to the notice of the under signed. Sd/- (S. K. DAS) Principal Commissioner of Customs (G)