[graphic version]

U.S. Coast Guard
National Vessel Movement Center


Welcome to the National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC) Web Site.

The NVMC began operations on 15 October 2001. As mandated by changes to the Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard, 33 CFR Part 160, the NVMC was established to track notice of arrival information from ships entering U.S. ports.

The NVMC provides assistance 24 hours per day, 7 days a week by phone, email, or fax.

Technical Support is available Mon - Fri, 0730-1600 EST via email.  All time-sensitive technical inquiries should be addressed to the NVMC via one of the above 24x7 contact methods.


NVMC News Bulletins

11 March 2008

The Saint Lawrence Seaway (SLS) updates to the e-NOA/D website, e-NOA/D InfoPath template, and Business Rules are now available.  This update reflects changes as agreed upon by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLDC) to include the latter's "at least 96 hours prior to westbound entry of the Saint Lawrence Seaway (SLS) at C.I.P. 2" notification in its electronic Notice of Arrival and Departure (e-NOA/D) for the coming navigation season. For a summary of the updated pick lists please follow this link.

  • Arrival Voyage Type of "Foreign to Saint Lawrence Seaway"
  • State of "Saint Lawrence Seaway - Transit"
  • Port of "CIP2" (to represent Call-in-Point near Montreal)

Third Party developers should check the Developer's Resource Page for associated XML file and Business Rules updates.

ATTENTION InfoPath Users: A new version (4.4) of the InfoPath template is now available.  It is recommended that prior to installation of the new template, the old template is uninstalled to avoid any conflicts between the versions. 

ATTENTION Third Party Developers: An updated Web Service URL has been published, https://noad.uscg.gov/noadwebservice/noadwebservice.asmx.

Any questions should be directed to Technical Support at techsupport@nvmc.uscg.gov

14 January 2008

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is working with the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLDC) to include their "at least 96 hours prior to westbound entry of the Saint Lawrence Seaway (SLS) at C.I.P 2" notification in its electronic Notice of Arrival and Departure (e-NOA/D) for the coming navigation season. By using the e-NOA/D, which already combines the USCG's and the United States Customs and Border's (CBP) arrival requirements, Notice of Arrival reports will be further standardized. The SLS changes should be incorporated into the e-NOA/D Website and Business Rules by the end of March 2008. Check back often for updates.

13 December 2007

ATTENTION e-NOA/D Submitters and Developers:  New automated processes will be introduced on 18 December 2007 to enforce greater compliance with the e-NOA/D XML Schema and Business Rules.  At this time, the process will not prevent e-NOA/D submissions from being accepted.  However, in the near future, submissions will be rejected based on the error warnings indicated in the e-mail message you receive during this pilot process.  These warning e-mail messages should be reviewed carefully, and the e-NOA/D file should be re-submitted if corrections are needed.  See an example of the e-mail message here

The NVMC Tech Support representative will be contacting the individual developers of 3rd party e-NOA/D applications to discuss required changes to their software in order to avoid future problems with submissions.

Any questions should be directed to NVMC at (800) 708-9823 or Technical Support at techsupport@nvmc.uscg.gov

30 October 2007

Legacy Email Address Changes

Developers:  Some legacy email addresses will be removed in the next few months due to technology upgrades.  It is recommended that you upgrade your applications - especially where addresses may be hard coded into the product - to avoid delays for your users.  Updated information is available on the Developer's Resource site and, specifically, in the White Paper for third party software development.  Information regarding Production email address changes can be obtained via Tech Support at techsupport@nvmc.uscg.gov.  

Submitters:  Please note that, due to the above-mentioned legacy email address changes, the NVMC M-Rep staff's new email address will be OSC-SVC-NVMCLiaison@uscg.mil.  The old email address (nvmcliaison@osc.uscg.mil) will no longer work as of 3 November 2007.   

02 October 2007

Several changes have been made to the NVMC Website & XML pick lists.  Details are listed below.

  • Several pick lists have been updated in the e-NOA/D, InfoPath and XML Schema package (for Developers).  The Foreign Port pick list has been updated to include ports that have been added to and/or changed on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)UN/LOCODE 2006/1 Website.  The Crew Type list, the Port_State list, the Agency list, and the Country list have been updated to incorporate user-requested information.  For a summary of the updated pick lists, please follow this link. 

24 August 2007

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published a final rule concerning electronic manifest transmission requirements for travelers (passengers, crew, and supernumeraries) onboard voyages arriving in and departing from the United States.

For sea travel, CBP will require vessel carriers to transmit passenger and crew manifests for vessels departing from the United States no later than 60 minutes prior to departure.  For vessels departing from foreign ports destined to arrive at a U.S. port, CBP is retaining the current requirement to transmit passenger and crew arrival manifest data at least 24 hours and up to 96 hours prior to the vessel's entry at the U.S. port of arrival.  Effective date is February 19, 2008.  See full Regulation here.

19 July 2007

A regular and predictable update schedule is necessary to allow InfoPath users and third party developers to better plan for upcoming e-NOA/D changes. To this end, the NVMC has established a bi-yearly schedule of 30 March and 30 September (or the first business day if these days occur on a Saturday or Sunday for a particular year) to push out any changes that will affect the InfoPath template, the XML Schema, the Business Rules, and associated pick lists. This does not preclude emergency changes, or other urgent modifications, from being added at the request of the Government outside of the posted schedule.

To ensure the most recent information is being used in application development or for the latest news, please check the NVMC Website periodically and/or subscribe to the NVMC Mailing List.  

06 June 2007

ATTENTION InfoPath Users: There are now two versions of the InfoPath template available on the Downloads page and via the Developer's Resource Page.  An additional template has been added for users who have upgraded to Windows Vista.  Due to new Vista security features, it is very complicated to install the Windows 2000/XP version on a computer running Windows Vista.  It is recommended that users running Vista uninstall the old template and install the new Vista template following the directions outlined in the "InfoPath e-NOA/D Application - Getting Started" guide found on the Downloads page.

It is recommended that prior to installation of any new template, the old template is uninstalled to avoid any conflicts between versions.

Any questions should be directed to Technical Support at techsupport@nvmc.uscg.gov

16 May 2007

Several upgrades have been made to the NVMC Website and XML pick lists.  Details are listed below.

ATTENTION InfoPath Users: A new version (4.2) of the InfoPath template is now available.  It is recommended that prior to installation of the new template, the old template is uninstalled to avoid any conflicts between the versions.

Any questions should be directed to Technical Support at techsupport@nvmc.uscg.gov

31 January 2007

The CARICOM Business Rules Addendum document has been updated to reflect the correct production web service URL.  See the Developer Resources "Resource Files" page for current version. Click here to be redirected to the Developer Resources page.

12 December 2006

The following e-NOA/D and InfoPath enhancements have been added:

More information is available on the Developer Resources page under "Resource Files".  You will need to register if you have not already done so. 

If you have any questions regarding the e-NOA/D schema and business rules, please address them directly to techsupport@nvmc.uscg.gov.

26 October 2006

New CG Regulation has been released to further define "Port or Place of destination" in 33 CFR 160 in the download section.

6 September 2006

The following has been added to the FAQ section located here.

  • Question: What is a port or place? Can I just put in the Sea Buoy or Pilot Station as my port or place of destination for ETA purposes?

    Answer: The port or place of destination is defined in 33 CFR 160.204 as "any port or place where a vessel is bound to anchor or moor."  Without a change to the actual regulatory language, the sea buoy or pilot station should not generally be applied to this definition unless it is the ultimate location where the vessel will be anchoring or mooring. All NOAs to U.S. ports or places should address where the vessel is bound to anchor or moor.

  • Question: If my vessel is carrying CDCs, do I have to submit a NOA every time my vessel moves from one berth to another berth? What if my vessel is not carrying CDCs - do I have to submit a NOA when transiting between ports or places within a single COTP zone?

    Answer: Vessels not carrying CDCs are not required to submit NOAs when transiting from one port or place to another port or place within a single COTP zone (33 CFR 160.203 (b) (2)). Vessels carrying CDCs do have to submit NOAs when transiting from one port or place to another within a single COTP zone. However, they should only do so if the vessel is actually moving from one port to another port. Moving from one dock to another dock, one berth to another berth, or one anchorage to another anchorage within one port is not considered a transit from a "port or place" to a different "port or place" and therefore, no NOA is required. If you are uncertain whether your movement is to a different port, you should contact the cognizant COTP to request clarification.

14 June 2006

The following has been added to represent new CBP contact information & CBP User Guide.

9 May 2006 

Several upgrades have been made to the online e-NOA/D website. Details of each are listed below.

The following change has been implemented for offline e-NOA/D users (InfoPath or 3rd party developed e-NOA/D products):
  • If an Initial e-NOA/D contains a previously used Notice ID, the NOA/D will not be committed to the system, and an e-mail will be sent to the Reporting Party, the 24-hour Point of Contact (POC), and to NVMC Technical Support and NVMC Watch indicating that an Initial e-NOA/D was submitted using a Notice ID that was previously used.

10 January 2006 

Several upgrades have been made to the online e-NOA/D website. Details of each are listed below.

27 October 2005

Several upgrades have been made to the online e-NOA/D website, the InfoPath template, and Business Rules. Details of each are listed below in the 12 October 2005 entry.

Please note: A new version (3.0) of the InfoPath template is now available. It is recommended that prior to installation of the new template, the old template is uninstalled to avoid any conflicts between the versions.
  • Version 1.0 has been phased out and is no longer supported as of 1 October 2005.
  • Version 2.0 will be phased out and no longer supported as of 1 January 2006. Please plan accordingly.
Third party Developers - The Business Rules have been updated. Please go to the Developer's Resource page to access updated documentation.

Please address any questions to techsupport@nvmc.uscg.gov.

12 October 2005

Several upgrades will be made to the online e-NOA/D website, the InfoPath template, and the XML Schema and Business Rules on or about 25 October 2005. Details of each are listed below.

The online Electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure (e-NOA/D) website will be updated on or about 25 October 2005 to include the following:

  • Removal of "US to US" selection for Departures. Reason- Many people are confused about when departure notices are necessary (currently only needed for US to Foreign trips). This change should help users select the correct choice. Although not required, recommend 3rd party developers do the same.
  • Addition of an Recognized Security Organization (RSO) list. Reason- Currently list only provides Flag Administration Countries although regulations allow for responibilities to be delegated to RSOs.
  • User feedback indicator will be included after "Submit" button is activated to indicate that the data is being submitted.
  • A new email receipt will be auto-generated and sent to Reporting Party and 24-hour contact that the e-NOA/D has been received but not yet processed. The NVMC will continue to send out the other email that you currently receive (notice has been processed.) The additional email will let the users know almost immediately that the information has been received (but not yet processed) by the NVMC. Additionally, by cc-ing the 24-hour contact (usually the agent), duplicate submissions for the same vessel/arrival should decrease. Important Note: While Departure Notices are sent to the NVMC, they are routed to CBP immediately and as such, fall outside of the USCG receipt process. We are investigating alternatives for future revisions.

A new version (3.0) of the InfoPath template will be available on or about 25 October 2005. It is recommended that prior to installation of the new template, the old template is uninstalled to avoid any conflicts between the versions. The new functionality will include:

  • Removal of "US to US" selection for Departures. See above.
  • Replacing Flag Administration Countries with Recognized Security Organization (RSO) list. See above.
  • Some minor cosmetic upgrades.
  • Complete information (including changes in Version 3.0) and instructions will be available in the Release Notes document included with the new template (.msi file).
  • A new email receipt will be auto-generated and sent to Reporting Party and 24-hour contact that the e-NOA/D has been received but not yet processed. The NVMC will continue to send out the other email that you currently receive (notice has been processed.) The additional email will let the users know almost immediately that the information has been received (but not yet processed) by the NVMC. Additionally, by cc-ing the 24-hour contact (usually the agent), duplicate submissions for the same vessel/arrival should decrease. Important Note: While Departure Notices are sent to the NVMC, they are routed to CBP immediately and as such, fall outside of the USCG receipt process. We are investigating alternatives for future revisions.
  • A conversion tool is included in this release, as XML files created with Version 1.0 will not natively work in Version 3.0. The purpose of the conversion tool is to allow users of Version 1.0 to easily convert saved Version 1.0 XML files into a format that will be accepted by Version 3.0. 
  • Note- Version 1.0 was phased out and is no longer supported as of 1 October 2005.
  • Version 2.0 will be phased out and no longer supported as of 1 Jan 2006. Please plan accordingly.

For third party Developers - The XML Schema and Business Rules will be updated to include the following:

  • Creation of a new Recognized Security Organization (RSO) list. See above. The new list can be used as picklist choices for the NOTICE | VESSEL | ISSC | FLAG_ADMINISTRATION section of the schema, but the prior list can be accepted as well. Please download "RSO.xml" from the Developer Resources, Resource File page. To view the list click here.
  • Several new Foreign ports added to "Foreign_Port_List.xml". New list can be substituted for old list. A list of the NEW ports only is available from Developer Resources, Resource File page, "New_Foreign_Ports.xml" . For your convenience, only the additional foreign ports are listed here.
  • Recommendation to remove "US to US" selection for Departures. See above.
  • A new email receipt will be auto-generated and sent to Reporting Party and 24-hour contact that the e-NOA/D has been received but not yet processed. The NVMC will continue to send out the other email that you currently receive (notice has been processed.) The additional email will let the users know almost immediately that the information has been received (but not yet processed) by the NVMC. Additionally, by cc-ing the 24-hour contact (usually the agent), duplicate submissions for the same vessel/arrival should decrease. Important Note: While Departure Notices are sent to the NVMC, they are routed to CBP immediately and as such, fall outside of the USCG receipt process. We are investigating alternatives for future revisions.

Please address any questions to techsupport@nvmc.uscg.gov.

26 July 2005

Several updates have been made to the online Electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure (e-NOA/D) site, as noted below:

  • The displayed saved and previously submitted e-NOA/Ds records has been increased from 4 records to 10 records. Also, the total number of pages displayed on the same screen has been increased from 20 pages to 40 pages. This limits the displayed values to 400 records total for each list. (the 401st entry will push the oldest e-NOA/D from the list.)
  • Additional ID types of Govt Issued Picture ID(US) and Govt Issued Picture ID(Canada) has been added.
  • Debark Country has been removed as a required field from crew and non-crew screens.
  • Paging has been completely removed from the crew and non crew screens. Each list will now display all records on the same page.
  • Cancun and Cabo San Lucas have been added under Mexico in the picklists.
  • Willow Run Airport and Ecorse have been added under Michigan in the picklists.
  • The Submit button will be disabled (grayed out) after the first click. This will help alleviate duplicate submissions.
  • The Last 5 Foreign Ports datagrid display problem has been corrected.

In addition, a new version (2.0) of the InfoPath template is now available, which includes several of the above fixes as well as adding some new functionality. It is recommended that prior to installation of the new template, the old template is uninstalled to avoid any conflicts between the versions. The new functionality includes:

7 February 2005:
If you are not receiving any NVMC emails even though you are certain you're using the correct email address, it is likely that a spam-filter or junk-filter is preventing the NVMC messages from appearing in your Inbox. Several major email providers (such as Hotmail, MSN, and AOL) have built-in spam-blocking features that will intercept - and in many cases, actually delete - messages.

Please check with your mail provider and have them manually walk you through the steps necessary to make sure spam and junk filters have been disabled on your account. Due to the wide variety of email providers and spam/junk mail options, NVMC representatives cannot walk you through this directly, but the support team for your mail provider should be able to.

In addition to turning off junk filters, please add the following email addresses to your "Safe" list, "Contact" list, or the equivalent for your mail service, so that you will be guaranteed to receive any email sent from these addresses: sans@nvmc.uscg.gov , nvmc@osc.uscg.mil

1 February 2005:
Homeland Security agencies improve customer service by combining maritime industry data submission requirements. Following this
link for the official press release. Visit the Downloads page for more information about the new submission methods.


Menu


Downloads

NVMC Newsletter 

Welcome to the National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC) Download Area.

From this area, you can download files pertaining to vessel reporting and U.S. regulations regarding NVMC.

To download a file, click on the corresponding link below.  Your computer may also support file downloads by "right-click" or "click-and-hold" mouse actions.

Use of USCG-formatted NOA methods does not relieve the submitter of the responsibility to know the regulatory requirements pertaining to its vessel and to ensure submission of a complete and accurate notice of arrival or notice of departure as specified in the aforementioned regulations. Failure to timely and accurately comply with the regulations may result in enforcement actions, including civil penalties. The Coast Guard takes no responsibility for any damages resulting from the failure to comply with the pertinent NOA and APIS regulations.

If you have a question about the regulations please contact the following offices:

For U.S. Coast Guard Notice of Arrival (NOA) regulation only: (202) 372-1244  
For U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulation only: (409) 727-0285 ext:238
For Saint Lawrence Seaway (SLS) notice/regulation questions: (315) 764-3292

Online e-NOA/D

Electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure (e-NOA/D) User GuideUpdated 11 March 2008.    

This document provides extensive guidance in the use of the e-NOA/D, which can be found here . Use of this format is voluntary. The e-NOA/D is provided to expedite processing of reports by the NVMC. All the data submitted through the e-NOA/D is automatically sent to both the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to relieve the burden of filling out separate forms or going to separate websites for each agency. The forwarding is all done on our end. You will notice there are new fields that correspond to CBP's upcoming regulation. The capability to update previously submitted e-NOA/Ds sent through this system has also been added. Using this format, you can log back in and send updated information (arrival time, date, and so forth) without having to start over. While the earlier version had the capability to allow you to copy a previous e-NOA and re-use the majority of the data, this new version adds the capability to save incomplete e-NOA/Ds so that you may work on them at your own pace without fear of losing data if sidetracked. We have also added a password management tool to allow you to manage your own username and password. You will also notice many changes to the structure of the website. In order to improve performance for our customers with dial-up modems, we have split the e-NOA/D into logical sections. Another benefit of the division of the e-NOA/D into these sections is that you will be able to see, at a glance, which sections are complete and which are incomplete based on the color of the menu button.

Offline e-NOA/D

Microsoft's Infopath 2003 is required in order for the below .msi file (template) to function.  More product information and a trial version can be found on Microsoft's site here. 

InfoPath e-NOA/D Application - Getting Started .

Updated 11 March 2008.   This document provides guidance on the system requirements and the steps involved in installing the InfoPath template.  

eNOADInfoPath_v4.4.msi  Updated 11 March 2008. *This download requires registration.  You will be redirected to the Developer Resources Sign In page.

This file creates an InfoPath template. InfoPath is a rich client product that can mimic the functionality of our web-application (the e-NOA/D). Its primary use in this application is to allow underway users to view and fill out a simple format and email that as an attachment to the NVMC, if the vessel does not have a constant connection to the Internet. The use of this format is voluntary. (NOTE:  Please follow the instructions provided in the above "Getting Started" document prior to downloading.) 

InfoPath e-NOA/D User Guide.  Updated 11 March 2008.

This document provides extensive guidance in the use of the InfoPath template. (NOTE:  The difference between using this template and using the NOA Workbook is that InfoPath condenses the data the user enters and converts it into a raw, machine-readable XML format in the same manner as the e-NOA/D.)

Other Formats

Electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure (eNOA/D) Schema.  *This download requires registration.  You will be redirected to the Developer Resources Sign In page.

This schema is the basis for the e-NOA/D web application as well as for the InfoPath template. This schema can be used to develop your own applications to create XML formatted documents that can be submitted via web service to the NVMC. Please check the NVMC website often for updates, or subscribe to the NVMC newsletter to receive notice of updates via email.  Please direct any other questions regarding the schema to .

Notice of Arrival (NOA) Workbook.  NOA Workbook, version 4.0 (updated 18 December 2003).  Use of this format is voluntary.  This format is provided to expedite processing of reports by NVMC.  It is requested that the worksheets/workbook are completed electronically and sent via email (versus fax).

INS Form I-418.  U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization, Passenger List - Crew List, Form I-418. This form is provided as a convenience by the NVMC.  This form can be used for crew and passengers; the Place Embarked column states it is for "Crew Only", however, this information should be supplied for passengers as well.

U.S. Customs Forms .  As a convenience to the public, NVMC has provided a link to the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) forms page, which makes available their various electronic forms online.   These forms can be completed online, then printed out.

U.S. Regulations:

NOTE: To view PDF files you will need to have Adobe® Acrobat® Reader installed.  If you do not have Acrobat Reader, please click here to download a free version. 
 

33 CFR 160 - Portable Document Format
Details requirements dated 28 February 2003 (Final rule on Notification of Arrival in U.S. Ports).

33 CFR 160 - Portable Document Format
(Port or Place of Destination)
Clarification of existing CFR, Port or Place of Destination

33 CFR 160 - Portable Document Format
(Subpart C) Notifications of Arrival, Hazardous Conditions, and Certain Dangeous Cargoes.


33 CFR 160 (Addendum) - Portable Document Format
Details requirements dated 1 July 2003   (Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, 33 CFR Parts 104, 160, and 165 - Vessel Security).


CBP APIS Final Rule
Electronic Transmission of Passenger and Crew Manifests for Vessels and Aircraft; Final Rule, dated 24 August 2007.


FAQ

National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC) Frequently Asked Questions.

If you have a question about the regulations or questions not answered sufficiently by these FAQ's, please contact the following offices:  

For U.S. Coast Guard Notice of Arrival (NOA) regulation only: (202) 372-1244  
For U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulation only: (409) 727-0285 ext:238
For Saint Lawrence Seaway (SLS) notice/regulation questions: (315) 764-3292  

1. How do I submit a Notice of Arrival/Departure (NOAD) report? 

Notification should be made via the Internet using the electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure (eNOAD), It was designed to transmit the required data in an XML format that allows for quick, automatic processing. Additionally, there is a Microsoft InfoPath template available that meets the current CBP electronic reporting requirements. The XML schema for the NOAD is also available if your company chooses to create their own system to submit the required data.

Notifications can also be made via general email, fax and telephone. However we anticipate that these formats will be phased out in the near future. These methods do not meet CBP's electronic reporting requirement, however.

2. What is the best method to report an NOA (fax, phone or email)?

The preferred method of submission is electronically, using the eNOAD web format. If information is faxed, faxes must be clear enough for NMVC staff to read. Telephone updates regarding minor changes are accepted, however, extensive amounts of information (crew lists, dangerous cargo, etc.) must be transmitted via email. Information faxed or telephoned in does not meet CBP's electronic reporting requirement.

3. Can the NVMC verify that an NOA has been received immediately after it has been faxed?

No. The NVMC receives over 600 NOA submissions each day via Internet, fax, email and phone. The volume of work required to process this number of submissions precludes verifying receipt for faxes. However, submissions sent through the eNOA/D system will receive a confirmation receipt. After the data has been verified, the submitter will receive an email detailing any discrepancies, or a simple notification that the correct information was received. 

4. What information must be reported when submitting an update or a change to an NOA report? 

When submitting a change to a submitted NOA, you need to submit only the name of the vessel, original NOA submission date, the port of arrival, the specific items to be corrected, and the new location or position of the vessel at the time of reporting (§160.208(c)).

5. If a crewmember on a vessel changes positions during the vessel's voyage, is an update to the NOA report required?

No.  There is no requirement to provide an update to an NOA for the following changes:  in arrival or departure times that are less than six (6) hours; in vessel location or position of the vessel at the time of reporting; and, to crewmembers' position or duties on the vessel (§160.208(a)). 

6. If my vessel plans to visit multiple U.S. ports, can the reporting source send one 96-hour notice of arrival?

Yes and No. If submitting a NOA via fax or e-mail, the submitter may enter additional U.S. ports in the Consecutive Port of Call for Current Voyage blocks of the NOA form and update the voyage information as needed. If submitting via the eNOAD system (including InfoPath ), the system is setup to require a new arrival notice for each port call. Although this may appear more cumbersome, the eNOA/D is designed to allow you to 'copy' all the non-unique data over to a new notice, requiring minimal effort to add an additional port of call to a voyage. 

7. What if I am unable to meet the 96-hour reporting requirement?

If your voyage time is 96 hours or more, you must submit an NOA at least 96 hours before entering the U.S. port or place of destination.  However, if your voyage time is less than 96 hours, you must submit an NOA before departure, but at least 24 hours before entering the U.S. port or place of destination (§160.212(3)).  The only exception to this requirement is for towing vessels operating solely between ports or places in the contintental U.S.   Towing vessels in control of a vessel carrying Certain Dangerous Cargo (CDC), and operating solely between ports or places in the continental U.S. must submit an NOA before departure, but at least 12 hours before entering the U.S. port or place of destination (§160.212 (a) (2)).  

8. What reporting requirements apply to passenger vessels on routes of less than 96 hours duration?

Only passenger vessels employed in the exploration for, or in the removal of oil, gas, or mineral resources on the continental shelf are exempt from the NOA (§160.203(a) and (a)(1)).  The COTP, in accordance with §160.214 is the only person who can authorize a waiver from this requirement.   If your vessel cannot comply with this subpart, you would need to apply for a waiver with the cognizant COTP.

9. I currently submit my information to a Marine Exchange. Can I continue to do so? 

Yes. Verify with your local marine exchange that they will be forwarding the information to the NVMC. The responsibility for ensuring that an NOA report is provided to the NVMC remains with the vessel owner/operator or agent.

10. Should an agent wait and send both the NOA and a crew list at the same time, or submit them as they become available?

To be considered a complete notice, all information should be submitted in accordance with the time requirements outlined in §160.212.

11. Will NOA information be accepted by Coast Guard Marine Safety Offices (MSOs)?

No.  MSOs are able to access the SANS database in a read-only mode and are therefore unable to enter any NOA data. For this reason MSOs will return any NOA to the submitter and request that the reporting party forward the information to the NVMC. The one exception to this is vessels less than 300 gross tons operating in the Seventh Coast Guard District. These vessels should continue to submit NOA information to the local Captain of the Port (COTP).

12. Who is responsible for submitting NOAs for barges?

If you are the owner, operator, master, agent, or person in charge of a towing vessel, and that vessel is controlling a barge, or barges, required to submit an NOA, you must submit an NOA containing the information required for the towing vessel, and each barge under its control (§160.202(d)).

13. What is required as a description of general cargo?

If your vessel is required to submit an NOA, you must submit a general description of cargo, other than certain dangerous cargo, or CDC, carried onboard the vessel (§Table 160.206(3) (i)).   Vessels must list the type of carg onboard.   For example, grain, oil, lumber, steel, scrap metal, etc.  Simply stating "general cargo" does not meet the Coast Guard's requirement.

14. If my vessel is carrying CDC, and I comply with the requirement to electronically submit a cargo manifest to Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP), do I still need to submit the name and amount of CDC to the NVMC?

Yes.  For a vessel carrying CDC, you also submit to the NVMC the name, UN Number, and the amount of each CDC carried onboard.

15. Whom should I report a notice of hazardous conditions aboard the vessel to?

If your vessel has a hazardous condition either aboard your vessel, or caused by your vessel or its operation, you must immediately notify the nearest COTP or U.S. Coast Guard Group Office (§160.215).

16. How do I request a deviation to enter for non-operating navigational safety equipment?

The process for requesting a deviation from the regulations regarding non-operation of navigational safety equipment found in 33 CFR 164.53 is unchanged and should continue to be made through the cognizant MSO.  However, the NOA submitted to the NVMC must also list any non-operating equipment.

17. A vessel is destined for a U.S. port from a Canadian port and the transit time is less than 24 hours.  Does the vessel have to comply with the NOA submission time requirement outlined in §160.212?

Yes. However, if your voyage time is less than 96 hours, you must submit an NOA before departure, but at least 24 hours before entering the port or place of destination.

18. In §160.206(c) of 33 CFR Part 160, it states that I may submit a copy of INS Form I-418 to meet the requirements of entries (4) and (5) in Table 160.206.  There is no place on INS Form I-418 for place embarked; do I still need to provide this information on a separate form?

The Coast Guard is aware of this and has been working with INS to update the form.  INS Form I-418 will be updated; until such time as it is updated, you do not need to submit the information on a separate form.  You may use the existing INS Form I-418; however, you must include information regarding where each person embarked.

19.  Which submission formats meet the electronic reporting requirements of both USCG and USCBP?

Submissions received through the eNOA/D webformat or via the InfoPath template (available exclusively on the NVMC Downloads page) fulfill those requirements. Also, many third party applications based on the eNOA/D XML schema also meet those requirements. You may also build your own system based on the eNOA/D XML schema to generate notices for electronic submission. The responsibility for ensuring that an NOA/D report is provided to the NVMC remains with the vessel owner/operator or agent.

20. If my voyage time is less than 96 hours, when do I submit my NOA? Is it acceptable to just submit it 24 hours before I arrive at the next port?

If your voyage time is less than 96 hours, you must submit your NOA before departure. In addition, if your voyage is 24 hours or less, you must submit your NOA 24 hours in advance. Examples: If your voyage is 72 hours, you must submit your NOA before departure. If your voyage is 18 hours, then you must submit your NOA 24 hours before arrival.

21. What is a port or place? Can I just put in the Sea Buoy or Pilot Station as my port or place of destination for ETA purposes?

The port or place of destination is defined in 33 CFR 160.204 as "any port or place where a vessel is bound to anchor or moor."  Without a change to the actual regulatory language, the sea buoy or pilot station should not generally be applied to this definition unless it is the ultimate location where the vessel will be anchoring or mooring. All NOAs to U.S. ports or places should address where the vessel is bound to anchor or moor.

22. If my vessel is carrying CDCs, do I have to submit a NOA every time my vessel moves from one berth to another berth? What if my vessel is not carrying CDCs - do I have to submit a NOA when transiting between ports or places within a single COTP zone?

Vessels not carrying CDCs are not required to submit NOAs when transiting from one port or place to another port or place within a single COTP zone (33 CFR 160.203 (b) (2)). Vessels carrying CDCs do have to submit NOAs when transiting from one port or place to another within a single COTP zone. However, they should only do so if the vessel is actually moving from one port to another port. Moving from one dock to another dock, one berth to another berth, or one anchorage to another anchorage within one port is not considered a transit from a "port or place" to a different "port or place" and therefore, no NOA is required. If you are uncertain whether your movement is to a different port, you should contact the cognizant COTP to request clarification.

23. How do I comply with the Coast Guard's Ballast Water Reporting requirements?

Information on how to comply with the Coast Guard Ballast Water Reporting requirements contained in 33 CFR 151.2041 can be found at the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse (NBIC) web site at http://invasions.si.edu/NBIC/bwform.html or from the Coast Guard's Office of Operating and Environmental Standards web site at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mso/bwm.htm. If you have further questions you may contact the Environmental Standards division by e-mail at EnvironmentalStandards@comdt.uscg.mil or leave a voice mail on the Environmental Standards Information Line at 202-372-1402.  

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