CONTAINER vessels calling on the Port of Savannah can now start unloading boxes as soon as they arrive, without having to wait for final clearance from US Customs thanks to the federal AQUA Lane programme.

The Georgia Ports Authority obtained certification on August 1, for all GPA terminals from US Customs and Border Protection to unload cargo from vessels prior to being cleared.

To enjoy the benefit, ocean carriers must be enrolled in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism programme, be in good standing with CBP and stipulate AQUA Lane status when they transmit their manifest to US Customs prior to arriving in a US port.

Vessels must still obtain customs clearance, but AQUA Lane allows port operations to start immediately with unloading and loading cargo - while the clearance process is under way. Crew members will still need to await normal clearance before disembarking.

"GPA works closely with our customers and our CBP partners to find ways to safely improve supply chain flow and reduce port costs. Ocean carriers calling our facilities are looking for ways to make their port stay more productive and improve their end-to-end supply chain service," said GPA operations chief Ed McCarthy.

"AQUA Lane brings more certainty to supply chain velocity with faster cargo operations on inbound vessels."