SEACR Business Rules

​​​ ​ Message Mapping

User Data Dictionary

SEACR - General Rules.

1. The valid Message Function Codes for a SEACR are:
   1. Original (9)
   2. Change (4)
   3. Withdraw (50)
2. SEACR messages must quote a unique Sender Reference. The ICS will use this number and the associated Sender Reference Version Number to ensure duplicate messages are not processed.
3. The version number for an Original (9) message must be set at 1 or greater.
4. Before the SEACR message is processed at the application level:
   1. All non significant leading and trailing blanks will be stripped;
   2. Multiple spaces will be compressed;
   3. Illegal characters will be removed; and
   4. All nulls will be converted to blanks.
5. Any errors in an SEARCR message will be reported in an SEACR Response message (SEACRR).
6. Any advice messages resulting from the SEACR message will be reported in a SEACR Response message (SEACRR).
7. The maximum number of errors and advices than can be reported will be 50. No further errors or advices will be processed once the maximum number allowed for SEACRR has been reached.
8. A Change to an SEACR will be rejected if there is no difference between the Original and the Change SEACR.
9. Each Change SEACR message will be considered to be a new version of the message. For each version of a message the senders reference version number must be unique and incremented from the previous version.
10. Change or Withdraw SEACR messages for which no original exist will be rejected by the ICS.
11. The Withdrawal of an SEACR is for the entire record.
12. Consignee, Consignor and Notify Party names and addresses can be provided in either structured or unstructured format.
13. Once a Sea Cargo Report has been created, amended or withdrawn on line through the ICS Interactive Facility, future processing via EDI will not be permitted.
14. Where the Message Function Code is 9 (Original) , the valid Line Action Code is I (Insert).
15. Where the Message Function Code is 4 (Change) and the Line Action Code is populated, the valid codes are I (Insert), A (Amend) or D (Delete).
16. To insert a new line to an existing record, the Message Function Code is 4 (Change) and the Line Action Code is I (Insert).
17. To amend unprotected header details, the Message Function Code is 4 (Change) and the Line Action Code is not populated.
18. To amend a line record, the Message Function Code is 4 (Change) and the Line Action Code is A (Amend).
19. To delete a line record, the Message Function Code is 4 (Change) and the Line Action Code is D (Delete).

SEACR - Processing Rules.

1. SEACR messages are sent by carriers, freight forwarders and service providers to the Department detailing the importation of sea cargo consignments.
2. The SEACR must be reported within a specified time of arrival of the vessel into Australia. See Import Cargo Reporting Timeframes for more detail.
3. If the Cargo Reporter is carrying cargo on behalf of another Cargo Reporter then the Freight Forwarder Indicator should be set. This denotes that there is to be a further cargo report lodged in relation to the cargo of this SEACR. If the indicator is not set and a further cargo report is submitted than the indicator will be automatically set by the ICS.
4. The Sea Cargo Report is uniquely identified by the following:
   1. Vessel Identifier;
   2. Voyage Number;
   3. Ocean Bill of Lading; and
   4. House Bill of Lading (if applicable).
5. The unique identifiers within a SEACR cannot be amended. The existing SEACR must be withdrawn and a new SEACR submitted with the new identifiers supplied.
6. A Cargo Status Advice (CARST) will be generated when:
   1. There is a valid SEAIAR relevant to the goods reported in the SEACR
   2. The Vessel has left its last overseas departure; and
   3. The screening period has expired.
7. The ICS will issue the user with an advice if the SEACR is received outside of the allowable Reporting period.
8. When Transhipment cargo is reported, the ICS will generate a transhipment number. This number will be automatically sent to the Cargo Reporter as part of the Cargo Status Advice message.
9. All In-Transit cargo on transiting vessels arriving at Australian ports must be reported in the ICS.
10. In-Transit cargo is identified by the Department via the presence of overseas discharge and destination ports on the cargo report. When this occurs the First Australian Port field must be populated.
11. List of SEACR Indicators
    1. Freight Forwarder Indicator
    2. Self Assessed Clearance Indicator
    3. Reportable Documents Indicator
    4. Shipper Owned Indicator
    5. Fumigation Indicator
    6. Hazardous Goods Indicator
    7. Perishable Goods Indicator
       
    8. Personal Effects Indicator
    9. Timber Indicator
       
    10. No DCL Required Indicator
        
12. If there are values supplied for both the Self-Assessed Clearance Indicator and the Freight Forwarder Indicator then SEACR will be rejected.
13. If the Special Reporter Number supplied on the Cargo Report cannot be validated against the Responsible Party ID then the Cargo Report will be rejected.
14. A SEACR will be linked to a Sea Impending Arrival Report (SEAIAR) by the following:
    1. Vessel Identifier
    2. Voyage Number
    3. Port of Discharge
    4. The first Australian Port of Discharge (for transit cargo)
15. The SEACR can also be linked to one or more Underbond Movement Requests (UBMREQ), Import Declarations (IMD), Progressive Discharge Report (PRODIS) or Sea Cargo Outturn (SEAOUT). These links are established using the following SEACR elements:

    UBMREQ	IMD	PRODIS	SEAOUT
    Vessel Identifier	Vessel Identifier	Vessel Identifier	Vessel Identifier
    Voyage Number	Voyage Number	Voyage Number	Voyage Number
    Port of Discharge	Port of Discharge	Port of Discharge
    Ocean Bill of Lading	Bill of Lading	Container Number	Ocean Bill of Lading.
    House Bill of Lading (if applicable)	Container Number (if applicable)		House Bill of Lading
    Import Cargo Type	Import Cargo Type		Import Cargo Type
    Container Number (if applicable)			Container Number

Data Dependency Tables

A Sea Cargo Report Message can be Created, Changed or Withdrawn. The mechanism for carrying out these transactions utilises Message Function Code. The Message Function Code is a document level transaction indicator that is applied to the document.

Data Dependency Table for Original and Change

The following table models the data elements of the Sea Cargo Report Document where the document is considered an "Original" or a "Change".

Data Dependency Table for Withdrawal

The following table models the data elements of the Sea Cargo Report Document where the document is considered a "Withdraw".

NOTE: for further details in relation to a Business Term, refer to the User Data Dictionary.

V2.4 10 MARCH 2021