Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the world’s leading maritime services provider, has launched an Advanced Cargo Information (ACI) department for Canadian ports following new regulations and procedures for cargo and vessel reporting by the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency).

Based in Montreal, Canada, the centralised ISS ACI department will offer expert guidance on all cargo and reporting requirements to shipowners or charterers with vessels arriving at Canadian ports.

Services provided by the new ACI department will include assistance in obtaining a carrier code, advance manifesting for all Canadian Ports and, if required, conveyance reporting and arrival messaging. Several major carriers have already subscribed to the service.

New CBSA regulations and procedures include a new Conveyance Arrival Certification Message (CACM) introduced on June 9 2013 for applicable marine conveyance arrivals, such as vessels arriving with cargo for discharge or with freight remaining on board. Marine carriers or their authorized service providers are now required to transmit a CACM message via an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) method to the CBSA.

Says Jason Skorski, ISS General Manager, Eastern Canada: “With the CBSA’s regulations and procedures now underway, the new ACI service will enable owners and charters to meet all ACI needs simply and efficiently.”

Inchcape Shipping Services is the world's leading maritime services provider. With 294 proprietary offices in 65 countries, and a workforce of over 3,940 the company’s diverse global customer base now includes owners and charterers in the oil, cruise, container and bulk commodity sectors as well as naval, government and inter-governmental organisations.

ISS provides landside commercial and humanitarian logistics, transit, offshore support, informational and other associated marine services. The company also provides a growing range of outsourcing services including global crew and marine spares logistics; port hub agency management; and sophisticated Enterprise Resource Planning solutions through its subsidiary ShipNet.