Cargo reporter obligations
Lodgement of cargo reports
All cargo reports are lodged in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS). The ABF does not charge fees to lodge a Cargo Report.
Each cargo reporter is responsible for lodging a cargo report to detail the cargo they have arranged to carry on the ship or aircraft. This requirement applies regardless of whether the vessel or aircraft is a commercial, government or military (including foreign governments and militaries) or private charter.
A cargo reporter or a
bureau may lodge a cargo report (on behalf of the Cargo Reporter). Persons that do not meet the legislated requirements to be a Cargo Reporter cannot lodge a Cargo Report and must engage a cargo reporter to do this. If a bureau is used, the legal responsibility for making the report remains with the cargo reporter.
Cascade cargo reporting
The cargo reporter must also notify the Australian Border Force (ABF) of any cargo carried on behalf of another cargo reporter. They do this by ticking the ‘Freight Forwarder Indicator’ box on the Cargo Report.
The carrier (shipping line or airline), as the first cargo reporter, needs to report full details of cargo they are directly responsible for. This means the operator of the ship or aircraft is responsible for cargo reports at the ocean bill of lading level or master air waybill respectively.
If the operator of a ship or aircraft has sold space to another cargo reporter, they need to also notify the ABF of any cargo carried on behalf of that other cargo reporter. This is usually a freight forwarder and, with sea cargo, may include a slot charterer. The other cargo reporter will then become the responsible party to supply an extra cargo report for that cargo, at house bill level, under the ocean bill or master air waybill identified by the cargo reporter they have purchased the space from.
Cargo reporting timeframes
- For sea cargo, a Sea Cargo Report and the Cargo List Report must be lodged a maximuum of 48 hours before the estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the first Australian port.
- For air cargo, an Air Cargo Report must be lodged a maximum of 2 hours before the ETA at the first Australian port.
- Shorter timeframes apply if the estimated journey time is less than these maximum amounts.
The house bill number field or air waybill number field on a cargo report should quote the house bill of lading number issued for the goods. This ensures each cargo report lodged in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) has a corresponding bill of lading.
If a cargo reporter cannot get a bill of lading to lodge a cargo report, the cargo reporter may use another commercial document to lodge the cargo report. This may be where the overseas freight forwarder is unwilling to prepare the necessary bill of lading. The commercial document must contain enough information to identify the consignment and lodge the cargo report in the ICS. The cargo reporter must also keep evidence why they could not obtain a bill of lading for audit purposes.
