Integrated Cargo System (ICS) Integrated Cargo System (ICS)

Cargo Status is the product of a cumulative process within the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) that evaluates whether a consignment may be released from Department of Home Affairs and Department of Agriculture control.

Cargo Status is determined by a set of conditions related to the cargo and associated documents.

Cargo Status information is available via Customs Interactive and is also transmitted in electronic messages to relevant stakeholders.

Cargo Status is recalculated every time an event occurs that impacts on any of the conditions, including amendments to the Cargo Report and associated documents.

Finding Cargo Status in the ICS

Cargo Status is displayed on the Import Document Status Detail View screen or the Import Document Status Summary View screen. These hyperlinks are available from a number of screens depending on whether you reported the cargo or lodged an import declaration. All users can obtain access to the status screens through the:

• Air Cargo Manifest List screen;
• Sea Cargo Manifest List screen; or
• Vessel Summary List screen.

From the Import Document Status Summary View screen, click on the status condition (N or Y) next to Cargo Report Evaluated. This takes you to the Import Document Status Detail View screen.

The Department has produced three Quick Reference Guides and one comprehensive guide to assist users in understanding the status of their cargo within the ICS.

• Quick Reference Guide 'Understanding Consolidated Status' (92KB PDF) This guide provides details of various conditions on the Import Document Status Detail View screen.
• Quick Reference Guide 'Understanding Status Conditions on the Import Document Status Detail View screen' (92KB PDF) This guide provides details of the meanings of a number of status conditions. 
• Quick Reference Guide 'Understanding cargo status conditions' (139KB PDF) This Quick Reference Guide assists users in determining the various reasons that their cargo might not be cleared. 

A comprehensive 18 page guide for beginners.

• Cargo Status - A beginners guide (467KB PDF) This comprehensive document provides information on the status of cargo within different ICS screens.

Urgent Cargo Clearance

To request an urgent cargo clearance, the cargo must meet one of the following criteria:

• Perishable goods will be damaged if subjected to delay, or
• Cargo requires immediate delivery (e.g. urgent medical supplies, hazardous materials and livestock); or
• Cargo may miss its carrier (export flights/vessels, truck booking system).

The Department has produced a list of terms and acronyms that clients may come across when using the ICS to import or export goods.

Import / Export terms and acronyms (125KB PDF)

In the event of an ICS outage, ICS slow response times, ICS specific issues, and/or client system problems it is critical that industry be able to continue normal daily business with minimal disruption through alternate cargo reporting procedures.

For more information, see the ICS outage page.

Information supplied to the Department for clearance of import and export cargo is available to relevant parties on request.

For more information, see the Accessing ICS Information page.

The ICS allows registered users in industry to legitimately track the movement of goods to ensure efficient transportation. However, there is a risk that individuals may abuse access to cargo movement information to track illicit goods to determine whether law enforcement authorities are interested in certain containers and to pass that information to criminal groups. Using information from the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) to aid such activities is an offence.

For more information, see the Disclosing Information held by the ABF page.