Service
Paperwork depends on where the cargo is going. Shipments from the mainland to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico are domestic. Shipments to most Caribbean destinations are exports. Dangerous goods need their own declarations wherever they go.
We help you work out which documents a shipment needs and gather what the carrier asks for. Customs clearance itself is done by a licensed customs broker; when one is needed, we tell you.
Freight between the mainland and Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico doesn't clear customs, but it still needs a bill of lading and an accurate description of the cargo. Vehicles need proof of ownership, and the lienholder's written permission if they are financed.
Some items are restricted by agricultural rules, especially for Hawaii, and Puerto Rico charges excise tax on some goods when they arrive. We point out what applies to your cargo.
An export usually needs a commercial invoice and a packing list, and it may need an Electronic Export Information filing, depending on the goods and their value. The destination's customs clearance is handled by a licensed customs broker there.
The U.S. Virgin Islands are a U.S. territory but sit outside the U.S. customs territory, so shipments there follow their own rules.
Duties and taxes at a foreign destination are usually paid by the receiver. Agree who pays them before the cargo sails, so the shipment isn't held on arrival.
Dangerous goods, such as fuel, batteries, gases and many chemicals, must be classified, packed, marked and documented by someone trained to do it. Declare them when you request a quote; some sailings can't carry them.
Origin and destination, what the cargo is, its dimensions and weight, and your sailing window.
We check which ferry, RoRo or barge services and port pairs fit your cargo and dates.
The quote lists the sailing options and what each one includes.
We book the option you choose with the carrier and tell you which documents it needs.
Corridors
No. Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. customs territory, so freight from the mainland is domestic. Some goods are subject to Puerto Rico excise tax on arrival.
No. When a shipment needs a licensed customs broker, we tell you, and we help gather the information they and the carrier ask for.
