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8/17/2023
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) on Aug. 1 obtained certification for all its terminals from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to unload cargo from vessels prior to being cleared by the CBP.
To participate in the Advanced Qualified Unlading Approval (AQUA) Lane benefit, ocean carriers must be enrolled in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program, be in good standing with CBP and stipulate AQUA Lane status when they transmit their manifest to U.S. Customs prior to arriving in a U.S. port, GPA officials said in a news release.
Vessels must still obtain customs clearance, but AQUA Lane allows port operations to start immediately with unloading and loading cargo while the clearance process is underway. Crew members still will need to await normal clearance from CBP before disembarking.
"AQUA Lane brings more certainty to supply chain velocity with faster cargo operations on inbound vessels," said GPA Chief Operating Officer Ed McCarthy.
In the past, vessels would have to wait for U.S. Customs to clear cargo and crew prior to the start of cargo operations. The duration of the clearance process is unpredictable, which can result in port labor waiting dockside to start operations.
"AQUA Lane is an important step that benefits the entire supply chain and reduces time and cost," McCarthy said.