U.S. Customs
U.S. Customs
All scientific equipment aboard a WHOI vessel departing for
a foreign port must be cleared out of the United States using
forms recognized by the U.S. Customs Service. The forms are
presented to U.S. Customs for certification by the Master
of the vessel upon departure from the United States. Forms
are retained by the Master until such time as the equipment
is moved from the ship, when they are presented to the person
(scientist or ship’s agent) responsible for returning
the equipment to the United States.
The Master has the right to refuse the lading of scientific
equipment that is not accompanied by certified export documents.
Further, scientific equipment found on board without proper
documentation when the vessel returns to the U.S. will be
manifested and may become subject to import duties. The owner
of the equipment retains financial and legal responsibility
for the proper re-entry of equipment into the United States.
Customs Form 4455
Important Note: WHOI must notify U.S. Customs 24 hours in
advance of any container being loaded aboard a WHOI vessel.
See “AMS” details below.
When joining the ship in a U.S. Port.
If you are joining the vessel in a U.S. Port before it departs
on an international trip you must provide the proper documentation
to prove that your equipment is of U.S. origin. Otherwise,
when returning to the U.S. your equipment may be charged import
duties, which you will be responsible for.
The proper documentation is the U.S. Customs Form 4455 and
International Shipment Summary
» US Customs Form 4455
(Certificate of Registration) with International Shipment Summary for Scientific
Equipment (pdf)
» Sample Customs Form 4455
and Shipment Summary (pdf)
When filling out the shipment summary keep in mind that customs
is looking for high value items, over $1,000. If you have
anything valued over $1,000 you should list the serial # if
you have it. You do not need to itemize every bit of gear.
For example you can list: 2 boxes of laboratory consumables.
Please fill out these forms and forward the ORIGINALS to
the Marine Operations Coordinator. Only ORIGINAL forms will
be accepted. Faxes and copies are not accepted by the U.S.
Customs service.
The Marine Operations Coordinator will give the Master all
the collected forms. The Master will travel to U.S. Customs
before departure and clear all the scientific equipment out
of the country. The Master will retain possession of the forms
until the equipment departs the vessel.
When joining the ship in a foreign port
If your equipment will be returning to the U.S. aboard the
vessel you must prove that it is of U.S. origin or you could
be charged import duties when returning to the U.S. The best
method is to use the U.S. Customs Form 4455 and International
Shipment Summary.
U.S. Customs will need to stamp the form when your gear leaves
the U.S. Your shipping department or shipping agent should
be able to have U.S. Customs stamp the form or you can contact
your local customs office.
The Master will need the original form onboard to present
to U.S. Customs on arrival into a United States port.
Customs will not accept copies of these forms.
The Marine Operations Coordinator will need a copy of these
documents.
» US Customs Form 4455
(Certificate of Registration) with International Shipment Summary for Scientific
Equipment (pdf)
» Sample Customs Form 4455
and Shipment Summary (pdf)
If it is not possible to have U.S. Customs stamp the Customs
Form 4455 you will need to bring with you the original shipping
documents from your shipping department or shipping agent.
There are two parts to these documents. A manifest, similar
to the Shipment Summary, that lists all your gear in detail
including description, country of origin, S/N’s and
value. The second document is the Air Waybill if by airfreight
or the Bill of Lading if by land or sea freight. It is best
to have originals but copies are acceptable as a last resort.
The Marine Operations Coordinator will also need a copy of
these shipping documents.
Automated Manifest System (AMS)
The Automated Manifest System (AMS) is an electronic summary
of all items that are entering the country (USA) aboard the
vessel. U.S. Customs requires this information to be submitted
into the national database before the vessel arrives in the
U.S. from foreign waters.
If a container and equipment are loaded aboard a vessel it
must be reported 24 hours before the loading of the container
in a foreign port. If only equipment from a container is being
loaded then the contents are reported prior to the vessels
return to a U.S. port.
The Marine Operations Coordinator will submit the manifested
information to AMS for the science party. Copies of the Customs
Forms 4455’s and other shipping documents are utilized
for the AMS submission.
While Marine Operations will submit documentation, the associated
fee for this submission is the responsibility of the science
party. This fee can be distributed among the science party
if desired and financial arrangements are in place.
» US Customs Form 4455
(Certificate of Registration) with International Shipment Summary for Scientific
Equipment (pdf)
» Sample Customs Form 4455
and Shipment Summary (pdf)
Export Regulations
The Scientific party is responsible to follow all proper US export regulations for their equipment being shipped to a foreign port. Your Institution’s shipping department should be able to help you make sure the proper regulations are followed.